(-2) Times (-2)

2 min read Jun 16, 2024

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.