Question

Explain how to show the multiplication of 3 and -4 on a number line

Answer 1

The multiplication of 3 and -4 on a number line is shown

Solution:

The number line representation is shown below

On number line the points are at equal distances

The multiplication of 3 with -4 can be understood in the following way:-

a × b , means a jumps b times

Eg :-  3 × -4 means 3 jumps -4 times

Which basically mean we are going to move 3 number  per step , and we are going to do this 4 times and –ve sign indicates we will move in negative direction

Therefore,

So, when we move from 0 , when we take first step we reach -3 , in next step we reach -6 , in next we reach -9 and in the last step we reach -12

Which is the product 3 and -4 .i.e. $3 \times 4 =-12$