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Why Does a positive number times a negative number equal a negative?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
That's because it is defined to be that way. This definition is quite logical; consider the following sequence:
3 x 10 = 30
2 x 10 = 20
1 x 10 = 10
0 x 10 = 0
-1 x 10 = ???
What number would you expect to replace the question marks? Look for a pattern. The numbers in the first column decrease by one at a time; the numbers in the last column decrease by ten at a time in this example, so you would expect the next number to be -10.
Defining multiplication this way makes many mathematical laws consistent, not only for positive numbers, but only for negative numbers - for example, the distributive law.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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What does a positive times a positive times a negative equal?
A negative times a positive is a negative.
Does a negative times a negative number equal?
A negative number multiplied by a negative yields a positive answer.
Does a double negative equal a positive?
two times a negative number does not equal 0.
How do you multyply integers?
when you have a negative times a negative it will equal a positive but when you have a negative times a positive it will equal a negative no matter what!
Does a negative plus a negative number equal a positive number?
Yes. -4 times -3 = 12
Does a negative number times a positive number equal a positive or a negative number?
Negative.
What does a positive times a positive times a negative equal?
A negative times a positive is a negative.
Does negative times a negative times a negative equal a positive?
No - it results in a negative number.
What is negative 10 times negative 5?
-10 x -5 = +50A negative times a negative will always equal a positive number.A negative times a positive will always equal a negative number.A positive times a positive will always equal a positive number.- x - = +- x + = -+ x + = +
Does a negative number times a positive number equal a positive number?
No. An odd number of negatives in multiplication is negative.
Does a negative number times a negative equal a neg answer?
No, a negative number times a negative number will equal a positive answer. e.g. -2 x-2 = 4 (a positive 4) e.g. -3 x -3 = 9 (positive)
Does a negative and a posotive number equal a negative?
A negative number TIMES a positive number will equal a negative number. A negative number DIVIDED BY a positive number (or vice versa) will equal a negative number. With addition and subtraction, it all depends on what the numbers are.
Does a negative times a negative number equal?
A negative number multiplied by a negative yields a positive answer.
Does a double negative equal a positive?
two times a negative number does not equal 0.
Does a positive number times a negative number equal a negative or a positive number?
A negative number. A positive number x a positive number = a positive number A negative number x a negative number = a positive number A positive number x a negative number = a negative Hope this helps :D
Does a negative number plus a negative number equal a positive or a negative number?
It could equal both a negagtive number or a positive number. To get a definite positive or negative you times or divide. Well in addition and subtraction negative plus a negative equals a bigger negative. Kinda like -4+-4 =-8, but in multiplication and division 2 negatives equal a positive. -2 times-2 =positive 4.
Does a negative number times a negative number equal a positive number?
Yes, as long as you don't count zero as either positive or negative.
