If multiplication is just repeated addition, then why when 2 negatives get multiplied they become a positive?

Question

If multiplication is just repeated addition, then why when 2 negatives get multiplied they become a positive?

In: Mathematics

Answer 1

If you say `x * y` means that you add the number `x` to the result `y` times, then the interpretation is that if `y` were actually negative then you’re subtracting `x` from the result `|y|` times (the “absolute”, or non-negative version, of y).

So logically if both `x` and `y` are negative, then you’re subtracting a negative number multiple times, and subtracting a negative number is the same as adding a positive number. So it’s like normal multiplication without the negative signs.