Question 45407
SIMPLIFY (-3)(-3)(-2)(4) 
These are the steps they take: 
= -(3)(3)(2)(4)
= -(9)(8)
= -72 
Why is there a minus sign to the left of the 9 and 3 in the first two rows? 
Here are the rules:
(+)(+)=+
(-)(-)=+
(+)(-)=-
(-)(+)=-
So the 1st two -'s give you a +
then the + times the 3rd - gives you a - answer.
So you have -3*-3*-2*4 = +9*(-2)(4)= 9*(-8)=-72
Another way to see the rule is:
If you are multiplying an odd number of - signs the
answer is -.
If you are multiplying an even number of - signs
the answer is +.
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I have this problem to solve, but it's not in the book: 
Simplify:
(6)
---
(-2) 
So I understand that means six divided by negative two. I understand the answer is -3 (isn't it?) but I don't understand how to take steps as shown above.
Similarly, if you are dividing with an odd number of - signs the
answer is -.
If you are dividing with an even number of - signs the answer is +.

So 6/(-2) = -3  but -6/(-2)=+3
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On this problem-
Simplify:
(6)(2)
I did this:
(6)(2)= +12 
That's the answer. You don't need 
the following line.
(4)(3)= +12
= +12 
Is that right and did I show the steps correctly? 

Cheers,
Stan H.