SOLUTION: If the product of two numbers is zero, what can happen?

Question 564735: If the product of two numbers is zero, what can happen?
Answer by Theo(13342) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let a be one of the numbers.
let b be the other of the numbers.
your equation is a * b is equal to 0.
assume a is equal to 0 and be is equal to any other number except 0.
your equation becomes 0 * b = 0
assume b is equal to 0 and a is equal to any other number except 0.
your equation becomes a * 0 = 0
assume both a and b are equal to 0.
your equation becomes 0 * 0 = 0
your product will be equal to zero in all cases.
at least one of the numbers has to be equal to 0.
both can also be equal to 0.
the value of the number that is not equal to 0 can be anything because anything * 0 will always equal 0.

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