Multiply Integers

Today we discussed the rules for multiplying integers.  We found out that to multiply integers we use two basic steps.

Step 1:  Multiply the numbers like you have in the past.  Pretend the numbers are all positive.

Step 2:  Count the number of negative signs in the problem.
     - If you have an even number of negative signs your answer will be a positive.
     - If you have an odd number of negative signs your answer will be a negative.

Examples:

6 x 3 = 18

-5 x 3 = -15        There is 1 negative so the answer is negative.

-7 x -4 = 28         There is 1 negative so the answer is negative.

-2 x 3 x -2 = 12          There are 2 negatives so the answer is positive.

-5 x -2 x -2 = -20        There are 3 negatives so your answer is negative.

-1 x -1 x -1 x -1 x -1 x -1 x -1 = -1         There are 7 negative signs so the answer is negative.

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