Question 304755:  if  m and n  are  both negative numbers , m is less than  -1  and n  is  greater  than –1, which of the following gives all possible values of the product mn ?
 
a   all negative numbers 
b   all negative numbers less than  -1 
c   all negative numbers greater than –1 
d   all positive numbers  
e   all positive numbers less than  1 
 
 Answer by Theo(13342)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! I would say selection d (all positive numbers.
 
 
A minus times a minus will always give you a plus, so the answer has to be positive.
 
 
The selections for positive numbers are:
 
 
selection d and selection e.
 
 
I can't think of a situation where the result would not be positive, so selection d is good.
 
 
The only other possible answer would have to be selection e, and only if that answer gives a more accurate representation of the answer.
 
 
Selection e says all positive numbers less than 1.
 
 
That can be violated very easily.
 
 
If we let m be equal to -100 which is less than -1, and we let n = -.5 which is greater than -1, then the result would be equal to:
 
 
-100 * -.5 which would equal 50 which is greater than 1.
 
 
Selection e is not valid for all values of m or n so selection d has to be the answer.
 
 
 
  | 
 
  
 
 |   
 
 |