why does a negative number multiplied by another negative number equal a positive number like how can u even multiply something negatively lmao idg anything

Question

why does a negative number multiplied by another negative number equal a positive number like how can u even multiply something negatively lmao idg anything

In: Mathematics

Answer 1

Think of multiplication as asking “How many of something do I have?” This way, 3 * -5 means you have three times the number -5. So you get -5, -5, and -5. Or -15.

Similarly, if you multiple two negative numbers, you’re basically asking yourself how many negatives of something you have. If you have -3 * -5, you are telling yourself you have the negative of that, which is positive 15.

I apologize to any mathematicians if I just slaughtered that.