You can
put this solution on YOUR website!Think of yourself standing on the number line at Zero. You perform multiplications of
by taking
steps that are
units long each. (you need long legs if b is large).
Now, the signs on
and
tell you the direction you are facing when you start and whether you walk forwards or backwards respectively.
Here's the rule: if
is positive, you face to the right, and if
is negative, you face to the left. Then, if
is positive you walk forwards, in the direction that you are facing, but if
is negative, you walk backwards, away from the direction that you are facing.
Examples: Multiply 2 times 3. Face RIGHT and take 2 steps FORWARD, each step being 3 units. You end up at positive 6.
Multiply -2 times 3. Face LEFT and take 2 steps FORWARD, each step being 3 units. You end up at negative 6.
Multiply 2 times -3. Face RIGHT and take 2 steps BACKWARD, each step being 3 units. You end up at negative 6.
Multiply -2 times -3. Face LEFT and take 2 steps BACKWARD, each step being 3 units. You end up at positive 6.
Hope that helps.
John
