Why two negatives equal a positive

Question

Why two negatives equal a positive

In: 3

Answer 1

Your premise is a bit flawed. It’s two negatives multiplied that equal a positive.

Let’s map it out:

-2 x -2 = 4

Why? Treat the negative sign as “opposite”. So

2 x 2 = 4, right?

So, changing one of them to be opposite would look like:

-2 x 2 = -4

Both sides of the equal sign have to balance out with negatives or positives. The opposites of opposite (total of two opposites) would equal positive.

-2 x -2 = 4

Thought of another way, if you have negative 2 apples (you owe two apples) and I multiply your debt by 2, you now owe 4 apples. But what if I multiply your debt by -2, logic would follow that the opposite of that would be you now own/have 4 apples.