-times-(-2).jpeg "(-2) Times (-2)")
Multiplying Negative Numbers: A Simple Explanation
Multiplying negative numbers can seem confusing at first, but it's actually quite simple. Let's look at the example of (-2) times (-2).
Understanding the Rules
The key to understanding multiplication of negative numbers is the following rule:
- When you multiply two numbers with the same sign (both positive or both negative), the result is positive.
Applying the Rule
In our example, (-2) times (-2) involves multiplying two negative numbers. Since they have the same sign, the result will be positive.
- (-2) times (-2) = 4
Visualizing the Multiplication
You can also visualize this multiplication on a number line.
- Start at 0 and move 2 units to the left (representing -2).
- Do this again, moving 2 units to the left (again representing -2).
This will bring you to 4, which is the product of (-2) and (-2).
Conclusion
Multiplying negative numbers can be a bit tricky, but by remembering the rule about same signs resulting in a positive product, you can easily calculate the answer. In the case of (-2) times (-2), the answer is 4.