Explanation of minus × minus = plus

Question

I've seen numerous explanation of why two negatives make a positive and I did understand most of them. Now, I found the following explanation :

If now we consider the product arising from the multiplication of the two quantities $a-b$, and $c - d$, we know that it is less than that of $(a-b)\times c$, or of $ac-bc$; in short, from this product we must subtract that of $(a - b) \times d$; but the product $(a - b)\times(c - d)$ becomes $ac-bc-ad$, together with the product of $-b\times-d$ annexed; and the question is only what sign we must employ for this purpose, whether $+$ or $-$. Now we have seen that from the product $ac-bc$ we must subtract the product of $(a-b)\times d$, that is, we must subtract a quantity less than $ad$; ◈ we have therefore subtracted already too much by the quantity $bd$; this product must therefore be added; that is, it must have the sign $+$ prefixed; hence we see that $-b\times-d$ gives $+bd$ for a product; or $-$ minus multiplied by $-$ minus gives $+$ plus.

The ◈ mark is the part where I'm not having the same conclusion... Does it seem convincing to you or valid ?

If so, could you rephrase it or explain it for me?? I'm not sure of following why this is THE conclusion!Thank you!

19th century I guess... not sure. It comes from Euler's elements of algebra, as a note on the bottom. (This note is not from Euler.) Why the question? — , Dec 31 '13 at 02:08
The part after the red line I'm not understanding. I'm not sure what the text is trying to say... A reformulation or another explanation would really help me :/ thank you again! — , Dec 31 '13 at 02:13
You mean you want to know the proof that $-\cdot -=+$? or you want to know what the text is trying to say? — mathlove, Dec 31 '13 at 02:20
@Astroman : I would discourage you from trying to read the text. It should not be that difficult to prove $(-1)(-1)=1$ (which is what you really need). — Stefan Smith, Dec 31 '13 at 03:00

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 31 '13 at 02:33

The author makes a poor argument here, because he assumes that we somehow already know that $(-b)\times(-d)$ equals $bd$ or $-bd$ and we just have to figure out which alternative is true.

Anyway, he says that (assuming $a,b,c,d>0$) we have $(a-b)d<ad$ and hence $ac-bc-ad>(a-b)(c-d)$, from which it follows that $(-b)(-d)>0$.

mathlove · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-31T02:48:44.633

2

I'm going to write what the text is trying to say.

1) $(a-b)\times (c-d)$ is less than $(a-b)\times c=ac-bc.$

2) $(a-b)\times (c-d)=(a-b)\times c-(a-b)\times d=(a-b)\times c-ad+(-b)\times (-d)$.

3) $(a-b)\times d$ is less than $ad$.

4) $(-b)\times (-d)$ has to be plus.

Obviously the auther assumes $a,b,c,d\gt0$.

edited Dec 31 '13 at 02:48

answered Dec 31 '13 at 02:35

mathlove

151,597

Yeah, that's what I understood. it's only the fourth part which I'm not following.... – Dec 31 '13 at 02:43
OK. You can compare $(a-b)\times c-(a-b)\times d$ with $(a-b)\times c-ad+(-b)\times (-d)$. Since $(a-b)\times d\lt ad$, $-ad$ means 'substract too much'. – mathlove Dec 31 '13 at 02:45
In other words, $(a-b)\times c-(a-b)\times d\gt (a-b)\times c-ad.$ So, $(-b)\times (-d)$ has to be plus. – mathlove Dec 31 '13 at 02:48
i think the inequality sign is a mistake... – Dec 31 '13 at 02:53
No. This is fine. Since $(a-b)\times d\lt ad$, we have $-(a-b)\times d\gt -ad.$ Hence, $(a-b)\times c-(a-b)\times d\gt (a-b)\times c-ad.$ – mathlove Dec 31 '13 at 02:55
Yeah, okay, I see the argument now. – Dec 31 '13 at 02:59
You are welcome! – mathlove Dec 31 '13 at 02:59

Felix Castor · Answer 3 · 2013-12-31T02:58:59.343

Cool article. Maybe if you put it in an inequality:

$$(a - b)*c > (a-b)(c-d)$$

then:

$$ac - bc < ac - da - bc \;?\; bd$$

Reorder and group:

$$(ac - bc) < (ac - bc) - da \;?\; bd$$

$$da<\;?\;bd$$

The right side can't be less than the left side so if all a,b,c,d are positive integers (although it wasn't stated explicitly in the text above so I'm assuming) $bd$ must added to keep the right side greater. This is what I gathered.

Explanation of minus × minus = plus

3 Answers3