Simple Math Law Contradiction Question

Why is a negative number, multiplied or divided by another negative number, result in a positive solution?

There is really no real world application to this theory. Look at the following 'laws of mathematics'. These laws contradict it.....

Ok.... 2 X 3 = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6

Let's say North is a positive direction and South a negative direction. Let's say a step forward is positive motion and a step backwards is negative motion. If I face South (negative direction) and take two steps backwards (negative motion), where do I end up? Two steps to the North. Negative motion in the negative direction results in positive displacement.

It's confusing because you did it wrong. You added three (-2) but you should have subtracted them.

-2 x -3 = - (-2) - (-2) - (-2) = 6

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Call that Equation I (which we will now ignore).

Call that Equation II.

Call that Equation III.

Let's look at Equation III.

-3 can be factored:

-2 * -3 = -2 * (3 * -1)

Multiplication is commutative:

-2 * (3 * -1) = (-2 * 3) * -1

Equation II shows us that -2 * 3 = -2 + -2 + -2.

By your own methods, then, Equation III can be written as (-2 + -2 + -2) * -1. Yet you wrote it as -2 + -2 + -2.

So we see that your breakdown of Equation III is incorrect, since it omits a factor of -1.

How about If I am OWED $2 by 3 people? Makes my net worth $6

2 x -3 = - (2) - (2) - (2) = -6

-2 x -3 = - (-2) - (-2) - (-2) = 6

If I give you $3, then give you another $3, you have $6. 2 x 3 = 6

If you owe me $3, then you buy something from me for $3 but have not yet paid, you owe me $6. 2 x -3 = -6

If you owe me $6, and I forgive $3, then forgive $3 more, you owe me nothing. -2 x -3 = 6

Haven't you learned that two wrongs make a right?

This seems to be a justification of the 'Real world'. The problem is, that anyone accepting the definition of 'Forgiving ' as the same as multiplying by a negative number will not feel the need to be convinced the -1*-1 = 1

RJ Pease