SOLUTION: Why it is if you multiply two negative numbers the product is positive? please help me sir/madam as soon as possible,,thank you'',

Algebra ->  Signed-numbers -> SOLUTION: Why it is if you multiply two negative numbers the product is positive? please help me sir/madam as soon as possible,,thank you'',      Log On


   

Question 201696: Why it is if you multiply two negative numbers the product is positive?
please help me sir/madam as soon as possible,,thank you'',
Answer by vleith(2983) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the product of any two negatives be given as %28-a%29%2A%28-b%29
%28-1%29%2Aa+%2A+%28-1%29+%2Ab
%28-1%29%2A%28-1%29%2Aab
You 'know' the answer is ab
So what you really are asking is "Why is (-1) * (-1) = 1???
Let's 'prove it'
0+=+0
%28-1%29%2A0+=+0
%28-1%29%2A%281%2B%28-1%29%29=0
%28-1%29%2A1+%2B+%28-1%29%2A%28-1%29+=+0
-1+%2B+%28-1%29%2A%28-1%29+=+0
%28-1%29%2A%28-1%29+=+1
So there you have it.
Make sense?