What is negative 7 times negative 42? (-7 x -42)

What is negative 7 times negative 42?

7 times 42 is 294, but what is the answer if both 7 and 42 are negative numbers? Here we will determine if the answer to negative 7 times negative 42 is positive 294 or negative 294.

There are many different ways to explain and determine if the answer to negative 7 times negative 42 is -294 or +294 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 -294 is the correct answer using basic algebra.

We will test if -294 is correct by setting up the equation negative 7 times negative 42 equals negative 294, and then simplifying the equation to see if it is true.

(-7) (-42) = (-294)

Divide both sides of the equation by (-42) :

		(-7) (-42)
		(-42)

		(-294)
		(-42)

The numerator and denominator on the left side both have (-42) which even each other out and can be removed:

(-7) =

		(-294)
		(-42)

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

(-7) =

		(294)
		(42)

A numerator of 294 and denominator of 42 on the right side is the same as 294 divided by 42 which is 7. Now we end up with this untrue equation:

(-7) = (7)

-7 is NOT equal to 7, thus we have proven that negative 7 times negative 42 is not equal to -294. The answer must therefore be 294:

-7 x -42 = 294

The above applies to all math problems where you multiply two negative numbers. Multiplying two negative numbers such as negative 7 times negative 42 will always have a positive answer.

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

What is negative 7 times negative 43?
Here is the next problem on our list that we have explained and calculated.