What I want to know is how can adding two negative numbers together equal a positive? Idiot's guide please!
For example, if I have minus 2 apples (which means I have no apples) in one hand, and another minus 2 apples in the other hand, how come I suddenly end up with 4 actual apples?
Answers:
you don't you have -4 apples.
two negatives can not make a positive.
I thought you have minus 4 apples myself! Maybe Im just thick though.
Ive just done -2 + -2 on my calculater and it came out as -4
It's when you multiply, not when you add.
It doesn't apply to real life, but it does in maths. Just write the answers down, don't question it
you would have minus 4 apples, the rules in maths are:
a plus times a plus = a plus number
a minus times a plus = a minus number (or vice versa)
a minus number times a minus number = a plus number
Because ADDING two negatives will NOT make a positive. You're thinking about multiplying two negative numbers, in which case the absolute value is given (a positive).
it all comes down to this:
if you ADD any two negative numbers, you will always get a negative no.
if you MULTIPLY any two negative numbers, you will always get a positive no.
if you SUBTRACT two negative numbers, you get either a positive or a negative no, depending on the magnitude of the given numbers.
if you divide one negative number by another, your answer will always be positive
hope this helps!
I don't like apples, why don't you use oranges, it will make it easier for me.
u would be in debit of -4 apples from me.
Hi, you have misunderstood negatives, and
-2 apples and another -2 apples = -4 apples
adding 2 (-) does not make a (+)
if you multiply 2 (-) you get (+)
if you multiply a (-) and a (+) you get a (-)
You cannot have -2 apples and another -2 apples without having more than +4 apples to start with. In maths you have to deal with numbers and then apply them to 'real life'
These are the laws of maths that you have to accept or you will scramble your brains !
good luck and well done for a great question.
I still can't work it out, I must be thick, well looks like I have to check the "Mathematics for Dummies" book, DRAT & TREBLE DRAT
I think most people have mis understood..
Using just (+) and (-)..
Two (-) make a plus..eg. 2 - (-2)= 4
Two (+) make a plus...e.g. 2 + (+2)=4
A (+) and a (-) make a minus...eg. 2+ (-4)= -2
A (-) and a (+) make a minus...eg. 2- (+4)= -2
then the answer is not +4 it is -4. -2 x -2 is +4 but -2 + -2 is -4.
Do you mean how can a negative times a negative be a positive?
First look at this chart:
3 x 3 = 9
3 x 2 = 6
3 x 1 = 3
3 x 0 = 0
3 x (-1) = -3
3 x (-2) = -6
3 x (-3) = - 9
So a positive times a negative is negative.
Then look at this chart:
3 x (-3) = -9
2 x (-3) = -6
1 x (-3) = -3
0 x (-3) = 0
(-1) x (-3) = 3
(-2) x (-3) = 6
(-3) x (-3) = 9
So a negative times a negative is a positive.
a negative + a negative is always a negative. can you make apple pie with -4 apples?
I'm not sure at all if I understand your question.but I try to explain what I understood.ok?
If you had -2 = -2? You means that?.then you have0=0, you have anything.!
On the other hand.apples can't be negatives.they are real.they are touchables.so if you finally have 4.it 's due to have 2 apples (positives) in your hands!
je suis desolé,. je ne suis pas d'ici.
You dont', you end up with minus four apples.
Does it? This rule works in multiplying, not adding. Some hints my school teacher once told us to remember that:
--a friend of my friend is my friend ( +*+=+ )
--an enemy of my friend is my enemy ( -*+=- )
--a friend of my enemy is my enemy ( +*-=- )
--an enemy of my enemy is my friend (-*-=+ )
minus is another name for take away.-2 + -2 = -4 which means you owe someone 2 apples and someone else 2 apples you OWE 4 apples
it doesn't work like that as you can't have minus 2 apples.
here is a correct sum minus 2 add minus 2 is minus 4
and minus 2 does not mean nothing
As other people have said, I think the basic problem is you are confusing the rules for adding and multiplying.
If you are trying to get your head round adding negative numbers think of it this way.
If you have minus 2 apples in one hand, it means you have a note in that hand saying you owe somebody 2 apples.
If you have minus 2 apples in the other hand, then its the same - you have another note saying you owe somebody 2 apples.
So you put the two notes together, and . hey presto . you owe a total of 4 apples.
And the way we write that is '-4'.
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Answers:
you don't you have -4 apples.
two negatives can not make a positive.
I thought you have minus 4 apples myself! Maybe Im just thick though.
Ive just done -2 + -2 on my calculater and it came out as -4
It's when you multiply, not when you add.
It doesn't apply to real life, but it does in maths. Just write the answers down, don't question it
you would have minus 4 apples, the rules in maths are:
a plus times a plus = a plus number
a minus times a plus = a minus number (or vice versa)
a minus number times a minus number = a plus number
Because ADDING two negatives will NOT make a positive. You're thinking about multiplying two negative numbers, in which case the absolute value is given (a positive).
it all comes down to this:
if you ADD any two negative numbers, you will always get a negative no.
if you MULTIPLY any two negative numbers, you will always get a positive no.
if you SUBTRACT two negative numbers, you get either a positive or a negative no, depending on the magnitude of the given numbers.
if you divide one negative number by another, your answer will always be positive
hope this helps!
I don't like apples, why don't you use oranges, it will make it easier for me.
u would be in debit of -4 apples from me.
Hi, you have misunderstood negatives, and
-2 apples and another -2 apples = -4 apples
adding 2 (-) does not make a (+)
if you multiply 2 (-) you get (+)
if you multiply a (-) and a (+) you get a (-)
You cannot have -2 apples and another -2 apples without having more than +4 apples to start with. In maths you have to deal with numbers and then apply them to 'real life'
These are the laws of maths that you have to accept or you will scramble your brains !
good luck and well done for a great question.
I still can't work it out, I must be thick, well looks like I have to check the "Mathematics for Dummies" book, DRAT & TREBLE DRAT
I think most people have mis understood..
Using just (+) and (-)..
Two (-) make a plus..eg. 2 - (-2)= 4
Two (+) make a plus...e.g. 2 + (+2)=4
A (+) and a (-) make a minus...eg. 2+ (-4)= -2
A (-) and a (+) make a minus...eg. 2- (+4)= -2
then the answer is not +4 it is -4. -2 x -2 is +4 but -2 + -2 is -4.
Do you mean how can a negative times a negative be a positive?
First look at this chart:
3 x 3 = 9
3 x 2 = 6
3 x 1 = 3
3 x 0 = 0
3 x (-1) = -3
3 x (-2) = -6
3 x (-3) = - 9
So a positive times a negative is negative.
Then look at this chart:
3 x (-3) = -9
2 x (-3) = -6
1 x (-3) = -3
0 x (-3) = 0
(-1) x (-3) = 3
(-2) x (-3) = 6
(-3) x (-3) = 9
So a negative times a negative is a positive.
a negative + a negative is always a negative. can you make apple pie with -4 apples?
I'm not sure at all if I understand your question.but I try to explain what I understood.ok?
If you had -2 = -2? You means that?.then you have0=0, you have anything.!
On the other hand.apples can't be negatives.they are real.they are touchables.so if you finally have 4.it 's due to have 2 apples (positives) in your hands!
je suis desolé,. je ne suis pas d'ici.
You dont', you end up with minus four apples.
Does it? This rule works in multiplying, not adding. Some hints my school teacher once told us to remember that:
--a friend of my friend is my friend ( +*+=+ )
--an enemy of my friend is my enemy ( -*+=- )
--a friend of my enemy is my enemy ( +*-=- )
--an enemy of my enemy is my friend (-*-=+ )
minus is another name for take away.-2 + -2 = -4 which means you owe someone 2 apples and someone else 2 apples you OWE 4 apples
it doesn't work like that as you can't have minus 2 apples.
here is a correct sum minus 2 add minus 2 is minus 4
and minus 2 does not mean nothing
As other people have said, I think the basic problem is you are confusing the rules for adding and multiplying.
If you are trying to get your head round adding negative numbers think of it this way.
If you have minus 2 apples in one hand, it means you have a note in that hand saying you owe somebody 2 apples.
If you have minus 2 apples in the other hand, then its the same - you have another note saying you owe somebody 2 apples.
So you put the two notes together, and . hey presto . you owe a total of 4 apples.
And the way we write that is '-4'.
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