Multiplying two negative numbers together: a real world example?

[One]

If I dont have 5 apples in one hand, and dont have 5 apples in the other hand, and dont have 5 apples in my fruit basket, and dont have 5 apples in my fridge, and dont have 5 apples in the cupboard ....

Then that means that I have 25 apples. Wait, what?

Or even simpler, it doesnt have to be -5 x -5, it could be -5 x -2 ....

If I dont have 5 apples in one hand, and dont have 5 apples in the other hand, then I have 10 apples.

Maths sure is broken.

Nah, you're doing -5 * 5 and -5 * 2. In the last example you don't have hands.

If a doctor owes you a pair of hands and a farmer owes you an apple for each hand the doctor owes you you'd have 2 apples.

-1(hands) * (-2 apples). Although that's clearly a nonsense example.

 

[One]

I can think of a real world example

Area is height x width.

If you're plotting something on a graph, and want to find the area. Let's say the points are -5 on the x axis, and -4 on the y axis, the area is 20, not -20.

All hail . . . .

Finally we got a real world example.

Nope this is wrong. You're multiplying the length of one side by the width of the other, the length is 0 - (-5) and the width 0 - (-4) so you have 5 * 4. And the subtraction of a negative number is very easy to show in the real world.

 

[TheCenturion]

Nope this is wrong. You're multiplying the length of one side by the width of the other, the length is 0 - (-5) and the width 0 - (-4) so you have 5 * 4. And the subtraction of a negative number is very easy to show in the real world.

Damn. Was worth a try.

 

[Morba]

If I dont have 5 apples in one hand, and dont have 5 apples in the other hand, and dont have 5 apples in my fruit basket, and dont have 5 apples in my fridge, and dont have 5 apples in the cupboard ....

Then that means that I have 25 apples. Wait, what?

Or even simpler, it doesnt have to be -5 x -5, it could be -5 x -2 ....

If I dont have 5 apples in one hand, and dont have 5 apples in the other hand, then I have 10 apples.

Maths sure is broken.

Excellent!

 

[bhavv]

Nah, you're doing -5 * 5 and -5 * 2. In the last example you don't have hands.

If a doctor owes you a pair of hands and a farmer owes you an apple for each hand the doctor owes you you'd have 2 apples.

-1(hands) * (-2 apples). Although that's clearly a nonsense example.

Oh right, the places where my minus 5 apples are stored give a possitive number not a negative.

But if I have 5 quantities of 5 apples each, that's 5x5 = 25.

If I don't have 5 quantities of no 5 apples, then I still have 25 apples?

Lets say I don't have a fridge or a fruit basket (-2), and I don't have two lots of 5 apples within them (-5). Then do I have 10 apples?

 

[Nitefly]

You own shares in competing companies A, B and C.

Negative 1) Company A goes bust. You lose money.
x
Negative 2) Company B goes bust. You lose money.
=
Without competition, company C dominates the market and conquers the world. Your shares are worth billions. You now sleep on a bed of naked ladies and post to OCUK from your gold throne.

Solved.

 

[edscdk]

If I dont have 5 apples in one hand, and dont have 5 apples in the other hand, and dont have 5 apples in my fruit basket, and dont have 5 apples in my fridge, and dont have 5 apples in the cupboard ....

Then that means that I have 25 apples. Wait, what?

Or even simpler, it doesnt have to be -5 x -5, it could be -5 x -2 ....

If I dont have 5 apples in one hand, and dont have 5 apples in the other hand, then I have 10 apples.

Maths sure is broken.

Hmmm, change the apples for $ or £ and you have shown how modern banking works...