The image you've uploaded presents a clear and helpful chart titled
"Rules for Multiplying Integers", which outlines how to determine the sign of the product when multiplying two integers. Let's break down the rules and explain each one with reasoning.
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🔷 Understanding the Rules
The chart is divided into three main rows based on the
signs of the integers being multiplied:
| Signs of Integers | Operation to Use | Answer Sign | Quick Example |
|-------------------|------------------|-------------|---------------|
| (+) × (+) | Multiply | Positive (+) | 5 × 7 = 35 |
| (−) × (−) | Multiply | Positive (+) | (−6) × (−4) = 24 |
| (+) × (−) | Multiply | Negative (−) | 3 × (−5) = −15 |
Let’s go through each rule in detail.
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✔ Rule 1: Positive × Positive = Positive
- When you multiply two
positive integers, the result is
positive.
- Example:
$$
5 \times 7 = 35
$$
Both numbers are positive, so the answer is positive.
> 💡
Why? Think of it as repeated addition: adding 5 seven times gives +35.
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✔ Rule 2: Negative × Negative = Positive
- When you multiply two
negative integers, the result is
positive.
- Example:
$$
(-6) \times (-4) = 24
$$
The product is positive.
> 💡
Why? This might seem counterintuitive at first, but think of it this way:
>
> - A negative times a negative represents "the opposite of a negative," which becomes positive.
> - In real-world terms: if you owe someone $6 and that debt is canceled four times, you gain $24.
> Mathematically, this follows from the distributive property and consistency in algebra.
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✔ Rule 3: Positive × Negative = Negative
- When you multiply a
positive and a
negative integer, the result is
negative.
- Example:
$$
3 \times (-5) = -15
$$
The answer is negative.
> 💡
Why? You're adding a negative value multiple times. For example:
>
> $$
3 \times (-5) = (-5) + (-5) + (-5) = -15
> $$
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🧠 Summary of the Rules
You can remember the sign rules using this simple mnemonic:
>
"Same signs give positive, different signs give negative."
- (+) × (+) → (+)
- (−) × (−) → (+)
- (+) × (−) or (−) × (+) → (−)
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📌 Final Note:
This chart is excellent for learning basic integer multiplication. It emphasizes that
the operation is always multiplication, but the
sign of the result depends on the signs of the numbers being multiplied.
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✔ Answer:
The rules are correctly presented in the image. The key takeaway is:
-
Like signs →
Positive result
-
Unlike signs →
Negative result
These rules apply universally to all integer multiplication problems.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of easy rules for integers.