Re:Calculus for Seven Year Olds [pdf]
by relaxing on Friday June 11, 2021 @10:38AM
(#27473972)
First, accept that a negative is the inverse, or opposite of something.
We can intuitively understand that multiplying slices by a negative inverts them - turns them from slices given into slices taken away. (Distribute the multiplication into addition if necessary to drive the point home.)
So it follows that multiplying negative slices by a negative inverts them again, turning them back into slices given.
It’s not a convenient visual, but if a negative slice represents the “taking away” of a slice, then a negative negative takes away the “taking away.”
We can intuitively understand that multiplying slices by a negative inverts them - turns them from slices given into slices taken away. (Distribute the multiplication into addition if necessary to drive the point home.)
So it follows that multiplying negative slices by a negative inverts them again, turning them back into slices given.
It’s not a convenient visual, but if a negative slice represents the “taking away” of a slice, then a negative negative takes away the “taking away.”