How do you evaluate #(- 2) ( 3) ( - 5) ( - 1)#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-06-19T08:43:45

#-30#

This is plain multiplication of integers, but we need to be careful of with the signs.

A negative multiplied by a negative will give a positive.

In fact any even number of negative numbers multiplied will give a positive answer: #(-1)xx(-1)xx(-1)xx(-1) = +1#

Any odd number of negative numbers multiplied will give a negative answer: #(-1)xx(-1)xx(-1)xx(-1) xx (-1)= -1#

#(color(red)(-)2)(3)(color(red)(-)5)(color(red)(-)1)" "larr# there are #color(red)(3)# negative integers

# = color(red)(-)......." "larr# the answer will be negative.

Now just multiply the numbers:#" "2xx3xx5 = 30#

The final answer is #color(red)(-)30#