Why Negative Numbers Multiply to a Positive
Many students wonder why a negative times a negative equals a positive.
(-3)(-4) = 12
Patterns in arithmetic help explain this rule.
A Pattern
Observe:
- 3 × 4 = 12
- 2 × 4 = 8
- 1 × 4 = 4
- 0 × 4 = 0
The answers decrease by 4 each step.
- -1 × 4 = -4
- -2 × 4 = -8
Continuing the same logic eventually shows why two negatives produce a positive result.