why is a negetive * a negitive a positve?

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One (humorous) way of looking at it is to see the two numbers as directions and distances. Let's say the first number represents whether you go left or right on a number line, decided that if it's positive, you go right, and if it's negative, you go left. Now let's say the second number represents how much to move. Positive numbers show "forward" movement (i.e. move in the direction of the first) and negative numbers show "backward" movement (i.e. move in the opposite direction of the first).Okay, so now let's consider the four possibilites.If you multiply 2 x 3...You move right forward 3 steps. (+3)If you multiply -2 x 3...You move left forward 3 steps. (-3)If you multiply 2 x -3....You're supposed to move right, but you backtrack 3 steps to the left. (-3)If you multiply -2 x -3...You're supposed to move to the left, but you backtrack 3 steps to the right. (+3)It's a little confusing, but hopefully it explains why it just is that way.~ Azaler

same signs positve opp sides negative