When multiplying two rational numbers, how is the sign of the product determined?
The product is positive if the signs of the factors are the same.
The product is negative if the signs of the factors are the same.
The sign of the product is always the same as the larger factor.
The sign of the product is always the same as the smaller factor
The product is positive if the signs of the factors are the same.
The product is positive if the signs of the factors are the same.
When multiplying two rational numbers, the sign of the product is determined by the signs of the factors involved. There are two possibilities:
1. If both factors have the same sign (either both positive or both negative), then the product will be positive. For example, if you multiply 2/3 by 4/5, the product will be (2/3) * (4/5) = 8/15, which is positive since both factors are positive.
2. If the factors have opposite signs (one positive and one negative), then the product will be negative. For example, if you multiply -2/3 by 4/5, the product will be (-2/3) * (4/5) = -8/15, which is negative since the factors have opposite signs.
To determine the signs of the factors, you can use the rules:
- A positive number multiplied by a positive number always gives a positive product.
- A negative number multiplied by a positive number always gives a negative product.
- A positive number multiplied by a negative number always gives a negative product.
- A negative number multiplied by a negative number always gives a positive product.
In summary, the sign of the product when multiplying two rational numbers depends on the signs of the factors involved. If the signs are the same, the product is positive, and if the signs are different, the product is negative.