This tutorial is made specifically to teach you how to multiply integers – negative and positive numbers. The procedure for multiplying whole numbers is very simple, but care must be taken not to make mistakes about the sign of the integer, which directly indicates whether it is a negative or a positive integer. Therefore, we recommend that you pay attention to the entire procedure and all the examples that are presented below in both written and video versions.
Of course, compared to how to add and subtract integers, the ability is much easier if you know what to do with the signs of the integers in a particular problem.
So let’s look at this mathematical operation in more detail:
Multiply Integers
If we want to multiply integers correctly, then we need to know well the rules for multiplying integers. Of course, we should apply them when solving specific problems. The very rules we have to follow are:
- When multiplying integers, the same rules apply as for multiplying natural numbers, only here we must pay attention to which sign the result will have. It should be known that:
- When multiplying integers that have the same sign, the result of the multiplication has a positive sign (+).
When multiplying integers that have a different sign, the result of the multiplication has a negative sign (-).
By following these simple rules, we can solve any math problem correctly.
Let’s start solving examples:
Example 1: Calculate the result obtained after multiplying the numbers:
In the example above, both numbers have the same sign. Therefore, following the rules, the result must have a positive sign – plus. Therefore, the result of multiplying these integers is +20!
Example 2: Calculate the result obtained after multiplying the numbers:
In the second example above, both numbers have the same sign (this time, unlike the first example, both numbers have a minus sign). Therefore, following the rules, the result must have a positive sign – plus. Therefore, the result of multiplying these integers is +20!
Example 3: Calculate the result obtained after multiplying the numbers:
In the third example, which is different from the first two examples, the two numbers have different signs (the first integer has a minus sign, while the second number has a plus sign). Therefore in this situation the result must have a minus sign. The result of the multiplication in the example with number three is -20!
Video Examples
By following these three examples you can solve any integer multiplication problem. Of course, the same rules apply even if you are multiplying more than two whole numbers. The video below contains several solved examples that you can also use for self-testing to understand how much you have learned. See the solved examples in the video:
If you have a certain task that causes you serious problems and you cannot solve it independently, you can send it to us. We will try to answer you as soon as possible and send you an appropriate solution. This doesn’t just apply to integer multiplication problems, but to any type of math problem!
