Multiplying Negative Numbers

For Dummies!!!

" You mean, I can learn this stuff too?!?!?"

Why yes little Bobby, you can learn this too!

"YAAY!! So how does it work?"

Well, when you multiply a ....

A positive number by a negative number you get a negative number

Example:

(4)(-2)=-8

"All these numbers are confusing me!!!!!!!!"

Okay little Bobby, here's an easier way of looking at things...

When a "positive" face sees a "negative" face, he too becomes NEGATIVE because he didn't find someone "positive" like himself.

"Gee Wiz! I'm starting to understand. Lets keep going!"

Alright, well when there is a....

positive number multiplied by a positive number it equals a positive number

Example:

(5)(5)=25

OR.....

When a "positive" face sees another "positive" face he becomes even more POSITIVE because he found someone "positive"

just like him.

A negative number multiplied by another negative number equals a positive number

Example:

(-3)(-5)=15

OR...

When a "negative" face sees another "negative" face he becomes POSITIVE because he found someone like him and now he's not alone.

A negative number multiplied by a positive number equals a negative number

Example:

(-4)(2)=-8

OR....

When a "negative" face sees a very "positive" face, he becomes more NEGATIVE because he did not find someone like him.

"WOW!!! I never knew math could be so fun!!!"

Well Bobby, when we both kept a positive attitude, the outcome was positive and you learned about

multiplying negative numbers!!

You can also multiply negative numbers using a number line!

Example: (-3)(2)=-6

First you have to...

Step one: Draw a number line from -10 to +10

Step two: Then on the number line put a point on zero

Step three:Next move the point 3 times to the left, so the point is now on -3

Step four:And for the last step move the point another three times to the left, so the point is now on -6

"Why do you move the point 3 times to the left twice?"

Because little Bobby in the equation there are -3 groups of 2. And to make -3 groups of 2 you have to move

the point 3 times to the left twice.

This is where I got some of my information and if you need more practice click the links below...

www.gomath.com

Then click on ALGEBRA SOLUTIONS, then under PRE-ALGEBRA click NEGATIVE NUMBERS and practice away!

More Links...

www.virted.org

Then click on Algerbra- An Introduction for Kids, after click on Multiplication of Positive and Negative Numbers

Another link....

http://www.mathsisfun.com/multiplying-negatives.html