What is negative 8 times negative 42? (-8 x -42)

What is negative 8 times negative 42?

8 times 42 is 336, but what is the answer if both 8 and 42 are negative numbers? Here we will determine if the answer to negative 8 times negative 42 is positive 336 or negative 336.

There are many different ways to explain and determine if the answer to negative 8 times negative 42 is -336 or +336 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 -336 is the correct answer using basic algebra.

We will test if -336 is correct by setting up the equation negative 8 times negative 42 equals negative 336, and then simplifying the equation to see if it is true.

(-8) (-42) = (-336)

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

		(-8) (-42)
		(-42)

		(-336)
		(-42)

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

(-8) =

		(-336)
		(-42)

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

(-8) =

		(336)
		(42)

A numerator of 336 and denominator of 42 on the right side is the same as 336 divided by 42 which is 8. Now we end up with this untrue equation:

(-8) = (8)

-8 is NOT equal to 8, thus we have proven that negative 8 times negative 42 is not equal to -336. The answer must therefore be 336:

-8 x -42 = 336

The above applies to all math problems where you multiply two negative numbers. Multiplying two negative numbers such as negative 8 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 8 times negative 43?
Here is the next problem on our list that we have explained and calculated.