What is negative 10 times negative 20? (-10 x -20)

What is negative 10 times negative 20?

10 times 20 is 200, but what is the answer if both 10 and 20 are negative numbers? Here we will determine if the answer to negative 10 times negative 20 is positive 200 or negative 200.

There are many different ways to explain and determine if the answer to negative 10 times negative 20 is -200 or +200 using mathematical terms such as additive inverse and mathematical laws like the Distribute Law.

We will take a different approach - process of elimination: We will simply test if -200 is the correct answer using basic algebra.

We will test if -200 is correct by setting up the equation negative 10 times negative 20 equals negative 200, and then simplifying the equation to see if it is true.

(-10) (-20) = (-200)

Divide both sides of the equation by (-20) :

		(-10) (-20)
		(-20)

		(-200)
		(-20)

The numerator and denominator on the left side both have (-20) which even each other out and can be removed:

(-10) =

		(-200)
		(-20)

The numerator and denominator on the right side both have a minus sign (-) which even each other out and can be removed:

(-10) =

		(200)
		(20)

A numerator of 200 and denominator of 20 on the right side is the same as 200 divided by 20 which is 10. Now we end up with this untrue equation:

(-10) = (10)

-10 is NOT equal to 10, thus we have proven that negative 10 times negative 20 is not equal to -200. The answer must therefore be 200:

-10 x -20 = 200

The above applies to all math problems where you multiply two negative numbers. Multiplying two negative numbers such as negative 10 times negative 20 will always have a positive answer.

Negative Times Negative Calculator
Here you can multiply another two negative numbers together.

What is negative 10 times negative 21?
Here is the next problem on our list that we have explained and calculated.