What is negative 86 times negative 64? (-86 x -64)

What is negative 86 times negative 64?

86 times 64 is 5504, but what is the answer if both 86 and 64 are negative numbers? Here we will determine if the answer to negative 86 times negative 64 is positive 5504 or negative 5504.

There are many different ways to explain and determine if the answer to negative 86 times negative 64 is -5504 or +5504 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 -5504 is the correct answer using basic algebra.

We will test if -5504 is correct by setting up the equation negative 86 times negative 64 equals negative 5504, and then simplifying the equation to see if it is true.

(-86) (-64) = (-5504)

Divide both sides of the equation by (-64) :

		(-86) (-64)
		(-64)

		(-5504)
		(-64)

The numerator and denominator on the left side both have (-64) which even each other out and can be removed:

(-86) =

		(-5504)
		(-64)

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

(-86) =

		(5504)
		(64)

A numerator of 5504 and denominator of 64 on the right side is the same as 5504 divided by 64 which is 86. Now we end up with this untrue equation:

(-86) = (86)

-86 is NOT equal to 86, thus we have proven that negative 86 times negative 64 is not equal to -5504. The answer must therefore be 5504:

-86 x -64 = 5504

The above applies to all math problems where you multiply two negative numbers. Multiplying two negative numbers such as negative 86 times negative 64 will always have a positive answer.

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