Question

How do you simplify `(−1)6(23)(−18)(2)`?

Answer 1

`(-1)xx6xx23xx(-18)xx2=4968`

Explanation:

In the given case PEMDAS does not strictly apply as we have just one operation that is multiplication, multiplication involves multiplying five integers `{-1,6,23,-18,2}`, none of which is zero.

When we multiply a series of integers (or for that matter rational numbers and real numbers as well), what is important is how many integers have a minus `-` sign before them.

If there is an even count of numbers (whether integers, rational numbers or real numbers) having minus `-` sign before them, then we simply multiply numbers and put plus sign before the product.

And if numbers, having minus sign `-` sign before them, are odd count then, we simply multiply numbers and put minus sign before the product.

This is because product of two negative numbers is positive.

Here product is `1xx6xx23xx18xx2=4968` and as just two number are negative product is positive.

Hence, `(-1)xx6xx23xx(-18)xx2=4968`