answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The answer has to do with the fundamental properties of operations on numbers (the notions of "addition", "subtraction", "multiplication", and "division"). Each number has an "additive inverse" associated to it (a sort of "opposite" number), which when added to the original number gives zero. This is in fact the reason why the negative numbers were introduced: so that each positive number would have an additive inverse. For example, the inverse of 3 is -3, and the inverse of -3 is 3. Note that when you take the inverse of an inverse you get the same number back again: "-(-3)" means "the inverse of -3", which is 3 (because 3 is the number which, when added to -3, gives zero). To put it another way, if you change sign twice, you get back to the original sign. Now, any time you change the sign of one of the factors in a product, you change the sign of the product: (-something) × (something else) is the inverse of (something) × (something else), because when you add them (and use the fact that multiplication needs to distribute over addition), you get zero. For example, (-3) ´ (-4) is the inverse of (3) ´ (-4) because when you add them and use the distributive law, you get . (-3) ´ (-4) + (3) ´ (-4) = (-3 + 3) ´ (-4) = 0 ´ (-4) = 0 So (-3) ´ (-4) is the inverse of (3) ´ (-4) , which is itself (by similar reasoning) the inverse of 3 ´ 7. Therefore, (-3) ´ (-4) is the inverse of the inverse; in other words, the inverse of -12 in other words, 12. The fact that the product of two negatives is a positive is therefore related to the fact that the inverse of the inverse of a positive number is that positive number back again.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why when multiplying two negative numbers do you get a positive number?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Math & Arithmetic

When multiplying two numbers with different signs the result will be?

Multiplying a positive and negative number will give a negative result. The result is a negative number.


What is the sign for multiplication and addition?

If you multiply two numbers, the result will be positive, if both factors are positive, or if both are negative. Multiplying a positive number by a negative number, or a negative number by a positive number, results in a negative result.For addition, if you add two positive numbers, the result is positive. If you add two negative numbers, the result is negative. If you add a positive and a negative number, the result depends on which of the numbers has the greater absolute value. For example, if the positive number has the greater absolute value (distance from zero), the result will be positive.If you multiply two numbers, the result will be positive, if both factors are positive, or if both are negative. Multiplying a positive number by a negative number, or a negative number by a positive number, results in a negative result.For addition, if you add two positive numbers, the result is positive. If you add two negative numbers, the result is negative. If you add a positive and a negative number, the result depends on which of the numbers has the greater absolute value. For example, if the positive number has the greater absolute value (distance from zero), the result will be positive.If you multiply two numbers, the result will be positive, if both factors are positive, or if both are negative. Multiplying a positive number by a negative number, or a negative number by a positive number, results in a negative result.For addition, if you add two positive numbers, the result is positive. If you add two negative numbers, the result is negative. If you add a positive and a negative number, the result depends on which of the numbers has the greater absolute value. For example, if the positive number has the greater absolute value (distance from zero), the result will be positive.If you multiply two numbers, the result will be positive, if both factors are positive, or if both are negative. Multiplying a positive number by a negative number, or a negative number by a positive number, results in a negative result.For addition, if you add two positive numbers, the result is positive. If you add two negative numbers, the result is negative. If you add a positive and a negative number, the result depends on which of the numbers has the greater absolute value. For example, if the positive number has the greater absolute value (distance from zero), the result will be positive.


Is a positive number divided by a positive number equal to a positive or a negative number?

When multiplying or dividing . . .If the signs of both numbers are the same, the result is positive.If the signs of both numbers are different, the result is negative.


What is the product of a negitave number and a positive number?

The product of two numbers is the two numbers multiplied together. When multiplying a positive number and a negative number, the answer is always negative. For example: 7*-3= -21


When you multiply a negative number by a positive number is the number positive or negative?

The result of multiplying a positive number by a negative number is a negative number.

Related questions

How do you multiple and divide positive and negative integers?

multiplying and dividing a negative number will "flip" the sign of the other number. So multiplying two negative numbers will produce a positive number. Multiplying one positive and one negative number will produce a negative. And of course two positive numbers yield a positive.


When you multiply a negative number by a negative number is the number positive or negative?

Positive A simple rule to remember this is when multiplying two numbers with the same sign, the result is ALWAYS positive. When multiplying two numbers with different signs, the results is ALWAYS negative.


When multiplying two numbers with different signs the result will be?

Multiplying a positive and negative number will give a negative result. The result is a negative number.


Does a negative squared equal a positive or negative?

A negative number squared equals a positive number. When multiplying, odd numbers of negatives result in a negative answer, and even numbers of negatives result in a positive answer.


What are the rule for dividing negative numbers?

The rules for dividing negative numbers is the same as multiplying them. A negative number multiplied/divided by a negative number is positive and a negative number multiplied/divided by a positive number is negative.


How do i times by a minus number?

The same as a positive one. If you are multiplying a positive number by a negative, the answer will be negative. If you are multiplying a negative number by a negative, the answer will be positive.


Why the product of two negative numbers is positive.?

Multiplying something by a negative number makes it change signs. A positive number multiplied by a negative is negative therefore a negative * a negative is positive.


What is the sign for multiplication and addition?

If you multiply two numbers, the result will be positive, if both factors are positive, or if both are negative. Multiplying a positive number by a negative number, or a negative number by a positive number, results in a negative result.For addition, if you add two positive numbers, the result is positive. If you add two negative numbers, the result is negative. If you add a positive and a negative number, the result depends on which of the numbers has the greater absolute value. For example, if the positive number has the greater absolute value (distance from zero), the result will be positive.If you multiply two numbers, the result will be positive, if both factors are positive, or if both are negative. Multiplying a positive number by a negative number, or a negative number by a positive number, results in a negative result.For addition, if you add two positive numbers, the result is positive. If you add two negative numbers, the result is negative. If you add a positive and a negative number, the result depends on which of the numbers has the greater absolute value. For example, if the positive number has the greater absolute value (distance from zero), the result will be positive.If you multiply two numbers, the result will be positive, if both factors are positive, or if both are negative. Multiplying a positive number by a negative number, or a negative number by a positive number, results in a negative result.For addition, if you add two positive numbers, the result is positive. If you add two negative numbers, the result is negative. If you add a positive and a negative number, the result depends on which of the numbers has the greater absolute value. For example, if the positive number has the greater absolute value (distance from zero), the result will be positive.If you multiply two numbers, the result will be positive, if both factors are positive, or if both are negative. Multiplying a positive number by a negative number, or a negative number by a positive number, results in a negative result.For addition, if you add two positive numbers, the result is positive. If you add two negative numbers, the result is negative. If you add a positive and a negative number, the result depends on which of the numbers has the greater absolute value. For example, if the positive number has the greater absolute value (distance from zero), the result will be positive.


How can you tell from the number of factors when a product is positive or negative?

If you are multiplying negative numbers, an odd number of factors will have a negative product. An even number of factors will have a positive product.


What are the rules for multiplying integers?

Positive x Positive =Positive Positive x Negative= Negative Negative x Positive= Negative Negative x Negative =Positive


Is a positive number divided by a positive number equal to a positive or a negative number?

When multiplying or dividing . . .If the signs of both numbers are the same, the result is positive.If the signs of both numbers are different, the result is negative.


Why is the product of a negative number and a positive number negative?

In math, a product is the result of multiplying. Multiplication is distributive over positive and negative numbers, which means, when a negative number is multiplied by a positive number, it always yields a negative result.