Hello indigo1. Welcome to PF !indigo1 said:
Multiplying by opposite values means multiplying a number by its opposite or additive inverse, which is a number that when added to the original number results in a sum of zero. For example, the opposite of 10 is -10, and the opposite of 12 is -12.
Knowing how to multiply by opposite values is important because it allows us to simplify calculations and solve equations more efficiently. It is also helpful in finding the inverse of a fraction or determining the sign of a product.
When you multiply a number by its opposite value, the resulting product is always -1. This is because multiplying any number by its opposite results in a sum of zero, and zero divided by any non-zero number is equal to -1.
Sure, let's say we want to multiply 10x by its opposite value. The opposite value of 10x is -10x, so the product would be -10x * 10x = -100x^2. Similarly, if we want to multiply 12 by its opposite value, the product would be -12 * 12 = -144.
Multiplying by opposite values is commonly used in algebra and other math applications. In real life, it can be used to find the distance between two points on a number line, determine the direction of a vector, or calculate average velocity. It can also be used in financial calculations, such as finding the net profit or loss after accounting for opposite values.
