Why are multiplying and dividing negatives the same?

Multiplying and dividing negatives are the same because there is no difference between those sides of zero except the side of zero. So, when you multiply or divide negatives, you are basically multiplying positives with minus signs behind them. Don't forget that the product of 2 negative numbers is always a positive.

why do people use . ( dot symbol) instead of x. if x is used common in algebra why did they put x in multiplication?

X is a simpler way of teaching kids. Little kids might think they’re smarter than they really are and think that it’s a decimal point. As you get older, you realize the difference between this sign and a decimal point. Hope this helped!

am i the only chinese people on this website

Bad grammar though, it's suppose to be "Am I the only Chinese on this website?"The answer is no, I am also a Chinese.

Why does the negative cancel out in *neg / neg* and *neg * neg*?

Because you are adding to it's self making a positive, with integers you always do the inverse operation well let me not say always for certain operations.

Hey guys. Is a positive+Positive+Negative and Negative or Positive?

Depends. if positive + positive is more than the negative it positive ex. 6+4+-5=5 if positive + positive is less than the negative the answer is negative ex. 5+4+-10=-1.

what if the first number is one and the negative number is -100

if it is 1 dived by -100 then you take 1 divide it by onehundred and get -0.001. If you are multiplying 1 times -100 then you take 1 times -100, set this up so that would be -100 because there is still a negitive sign.

Main content

7th grade

Course: 7th grade > Unit 5

Lesson 2: Multiply & divide negative numbers

Multiplying negative numbers review

Google Classroom

Review the basic of multiplying negative numbers and try some practice problems.

Summary

Expression	Product	Example
positive $\times$ ‍ positive	positive	$2 \times 3 = 6$ ‍
negative $\times$ ‍ negative	positive	$- 2 \times (- 3) = 6$ ‍
negative $\times$ ‍ positive	negative	$- 2 \times 3 = - 6$ ‍
positive $\times$ ‍ negative	negative	$2 \times (- 3) = - 6$ ‍

Want to learn more about multiplying negative numbers? Check out this video.

Want to know why multiplying two negative numbers equals a positive number? Check out this video.

Practice

Problem 1

Multiply.

- 4 \times 6 =

Want to try some more multiplying negative numbers problems? Check out this exercise.

Want to join the conversation?

Sort by:

HunterA
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to HunterA's post “Why are multiplying and d...”
Why are multiplying and dividing negatives the same?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on HunterA's post “Why are multiplying and d...”
(70 votes)
Answer
- Naga Sadow
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Naga Sadow's post “Multiplying and dividing ...”
  Multiplying and dividing negatives are the same because there is no difference between those sides of zero except the side of zero. So, when you multiply or divide negatives, you are basically multiplying positives with minus signs behind them. Don't forget that the product of 2 negative numbers is always a positive.
  Comment on Naga Sadow's post “Multiplying and dividing ...”
  (6 votes)
doraralsouli
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to doraralsouli's post “easy lemon squishy vote f...”
easy lemon squishy vote for me if you agree if you dont now how press the upvote button
Button navigates to signup pageComment on doraralsouli's post “easy lemon squishy vote f...”
(62 votes)
Answer
tadikonda.sachchit
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to tadikonda.sachchit's post “why do people use . ( dot...”
why do people use . ( dot symbol) instead of x. if x is used common in algebra why did they put x in multiplication?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on tadikonda.sachchit's post “why do people use . ( dot...”
(20 votes)
Answer
- anthony.torres
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to anthony.torres's post “X is a simpler way of tea...”
  X is a simpler way of teaching kids. Little kids might think they’re smarter than they really are and think that it’s a decimal point. As you get older, you realize the difference between this sign and a decimal point. Hope this helped!
  Button navigates to signup page
  (19 votes)
雨辞生
Posted a year ago. Direct link to 雨辞生's post “am i the only chinese peo...”
am i the only chinese people on this website
Button navigates to signup pageComment on 雨辞生's post “am i the only chinese peo...”
(20 votes)
Answer
- MTB
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to MTB's post “Bad grammar though, it's ...”
  Bad grammar though, it's suppose to be "Am I the only Chinese on this website?"The answer is no, I am also a Chinese.
  Comment on MTB's post “Bad grammar though, it's ...”
  (5 votes)
Zachary Krein
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Zachary Krein's post “yay, math, definately fun...”
yay, math, definately fun.
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Zachary Krein's post “yay, math, definately fun...”
(14 votes)
Answer
- christianmartinez
  Posted a month ago. Direct link to christianmartinez's post “no math is not fun at all...”
  no math is not fun at all! Math = horrible
  Comment on christianmartinez's post “no math is not fun at all...”
  (0 votes)
Alex
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Alex's post “Why does the negative can...”
Why does the negative cancel out in neg / neg and neg * neg?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Alex's post “Why does the negative can...”
(12 votes)
Answer
- najackson
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to najackson's post “Because you are adding to...”
  Because you are adding to it's self making a positive, with integers you always do the inverse operation well let me not say always for certain operations.
  Comment on najackson's post “Because you are adding to...”
  (5 votes)
amutsch23
Posted 5 months ago. Direct link to amutsch23's post “Why do we need letter in ...”
Why do we need letter in math? I know why we need fractions but why letter. Why cant it give us a problem like, The candy cost 10.00 but the sign says 5% off. Why do we need letters for a simple problem?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on amutsch23's post “Why do we need letter in ...”
(12 votes)
Answer
- Ron Kempke
  Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to Ron Kempke's post “They're called "variables...”
  They're called "variables".
  Button navigates to signup page
  (2 votes)
latarius lumas
Posted 10 months ago. Direct link to latarius lumas's post “vote for me if this s eas...”
vote for me if this s easy peasy lemon squeezy
hint: press upvote
Button navigates to signup pageComment on latarius lumas's post “vote for me if this s eas...”
(11 votes)
Answer
Dylan D
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Dylan D's post “Hey guys. Is a positive+P...”
Hey guys. Is a positive+Positive+Negative and Negative or Positive?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Dylan D's post “Hey guys. Is a positive+P...”
(7 votes)
Answer
- zoujoe24
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to zoujoe24's post “Depends. if positive + po...”
  Depends. if positive + positive is more than the negative it positive ex. 6+4+-5=5 if positive + positive is less than the negative the answer is negative ex. 5+4+-10=-1.
  Comment on zoujoe24's post “Depends. if positive + po...”
  (8 votes)
510862
Posted 6 months ago. Direct link to 510862's post “what if the first number ...”
what if the first number is one and the negative number is -100
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(7 votes)
Answer
- jormond
  Posted 6 months ago. Direct link to jormond's post “if it is 1 dived by -100 ...”
  if it is 1 dived by -100 then you take 1 divide it by onehundred and get -0.001. If you are multiplying 1 times -100 then you take 1 times -100, set this up so that would be -100 because there is still a negitive sign.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (7 votes)