Multiplication of integers is written as a x b or a
times b. For example, let’s consider 3 x 6. What this means is
that 3 is being added to itself 6 times (3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3), or
you can think of this as 6 groups with there units in each group. So
to solve 3 x 6 you would count the number of units in each group.
Example
Let’s try an example. Lets say we had 6 groups of trees and each
group had 3 trees meaning there are 18 trees altogether. So 3 x 6
= 18.
Remember multiplication is commutative, a x b = b x a. Any number
times 0 is equal to 0, and any number times one is equal to that
number.
Multiplication of negative numbers can be a little tricky. When
we multiply a positive number by a negative number we get a negative
result.
Example
3 x -7 = -21
However, when we multiply two negatives together we get a
positive result. All you have to do is remember that if the signs
are different than we get a negative result, and if they are the
same then we get a positive result. |
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