Question

If a = − 65 and b = 8, the product of a x b models which rule for multiplying integers? What is the product?

Answer 1

a = -65
b = 8

a * b = -65 * 8 = - 520

when multiplying, if the signs are different, then the product is negative

Answer 2

To multiply or divide signed integers, always multiply or divide the absolute values and use these rules to determine the sign of the answer:

The product of two positive integers or two negative integers is positive.

The product of a positive integer and a negative integer is negative.

Now while multiplying a=-65 and b=8

we multiply 65 with 8 to get 520.

Here a=-65 is negative and b=8 is positive, so we use the second rule here:

The product of a positive integer and a negative integer is negative.

So the answer will have a negative sign that is -520

Answer : product is -520