When you multiply -(+) does it = a +

Question

Does a negative times a positive equal a negative

Answer 1

Here are the rules:

positive x positive = positive

positive x negative = negative

negative x positive = negative

negative x negative = positive

 

The easiest way to remember: If you multiply two numbers with the same sign (two positives or two negatives), you get a positive; If they have different signs (positive and negative)) you get a negative.

Answer 2

I like Philip's approach.  Another way:

 

Think about negative being "the opposite of."

 

So, one negative is "the opposite of a positive."  That's negative.  -5 is the opposite of 5.  -1 * 6 is the opposite of 6, or -6.

 

But what about two negatives?  We know what to do with one negative:  The first negative is the opposite of positive.  So, that gives us a negative.  But then, with two negatives, ya gotta do it again.  The opposite of negative is...positive.  So, it flips back to positive.

 

-5 * -6 is 30, with two negatives.  The first negative gives us "the opposite of 30," or -30.  The second negative is "the opposite of -30."  That's 30.

 

Hope that and Philip's answer help you out,

 

-- Michael