Question

How do you find the product `-3*4`?

Answer 1

`-12`

Explanation:

So `-3 * 4` is technically `3xx4`, but with a random negative sign.
So here's a step by step:

`3xx4 = 12`
But a negative times a positive is negative... so
`-3*4 = -12`
Can you see the relationship?
Here's some more hints:

Negative x Negative = Positive
Negative x Positive = Negative
Positive x Negative = Negative
Positive x Positive = Positive

A short cut is to count how many negative signs are being multiplied - an even number gives a positive answer
- an odd number gives a negative answer

So as long as you know that and your times tables, then you can literally solve any multiplication problem, negative or positive.