The Product of Two Positive Integers
Consider the product 3 × 4.

This suggests that:
The product of two positive
integers is a positive integer.
Example 10
Find the value of:

Solution:

The Product of Two Negative Integers
Consider the product –3 × – 4.

This suggests that:
The product of two negative
integers is a positive integer.
Example 11
Find the value of:

Solution:

The Product of a Positive Integer and a Negative Integer
Consider the product 4 × –3.

This suggests that:
The product of a positive integer
and a negative integer is a negative
integer.
Example 12
Find the value of:

Solution:

Just to recap the foregoing discussion:
- The product of two numbers with like (i.e. the same) signs is always
positive.
- The product of two numbers with unlike (i.e. different) signs is
always negative.
|