2007-09-20 14:22:44 · 6 answers · asked by natdog18 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Just cause
If you think about it too much, you'll just confuse yourself, trust me
2007-09-20 14:27:06 · answer #1 · answered by H.U. Soldier 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
(** please ignore this answer, Old Alchemist's anser above says what I am saying here -- he just did it much more concisely.**)
Ahhhhh ... your teacher did not teach Basic Number Line concepts, did she?
When you think of 10 - 6, you start on the number line at 10 and you MOVE LEFT 6 units. The (-) negative sign implies a direction. You start ten units to the right and you move six units backward because the six is negative. The negative ChANGED YOUR DIRECTION of travel.
Same with multiplication. Let's do (-10) x (-6). Begin at zero, so to start at negative ten (-10), you move left ten. To multiply by positive six (6), you would continue to the left for six more (-10)s. Now you are way out at -60. To the left is the negative direction.
But you wanted to know about a negative by a negative. Consider (-10) x (-6). Again we begin at zero, to go (-10) we face left since negative is to the left. BUT WAIT. We are not multiplying by 6, we want to multiply by (-6). Negative means to go the other way, NEGATIVE MEANS A CHANGE OF DIRECTION. So you must turn around since because of the negative sign. And go ten units six times to the right.
You have two negatives. One negative will move you to the left. Two negatives effectively cancel each other out. The first one says go left, and the second one reverses that. So you move in the positive direction.
This seems like it went on for far too long. Hope this is helpful.
2007-09-20 21:36:43 · answer #2 · answered by discover425 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why does multiplying two negative numbers make a positive?
Well, first there is the "common sense" explanation:
If I say "Eat!" I am encouraging you to eat (positive), but if I say "do not eat!" I am saying the opposite (negative).
Now if I say "Do NOT not eat", I am saying I don't want you to starve, so I am back to saying "Eat!".
So, two negatives make a positive, and if that satisifes you, then you don't need to read any more.
2007-09-20 21:33:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
consider multiplying by a negative number to be a 180 degree turn. Two of them, and you are positive again.
2007-09-20 21:27:34 · answer #4 · answered by Computer Guy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it just is
2007-09-20 21:25:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because..... idk that`s just the way it works xD
2007-09-20 21:32:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋