-X x -X=+!!!!!!?

[rosamundjohn]

Can someone explain in layman's terms why a minus number multiplied by a minus number makes a plus?
Any use of concrete items like bananas, pears, apples etc would be appreciated.
How does it go to the right of the decimal point for heavens sake?!

[rosamundjohn]

-3 x 3=-9
-3 x -1= 3 but would leave me with 6 in the bank

[rosamundjohn]

ALL
-3 x-3=9 so that would mean 6 in credit.
I think I shall become an economist now or maybe a stockbroker.

[rosamundjohn]

No-0 in the bank for the first one-I was trying with different numbers...isn't that what economists do?!!

[Bloss]

You are correct with your calculations concerning the two lots of �100 debt.

Glad to be of assistance.

Once you earn a few million in 'the City' can I have a 10% cut?

(Do I need to explain percentages!!??)

[rosamundjohn]

Bloss.
Yes probably. What you do is move the decimal place, 2 to the left as far as I am concerned to get 1%.
Do you have any problems I can solve now that I am going into your field?

[factor-fiction]

You are being mischievopus rosamundjohn. You lure us into thinking you've grasped it then you come up with something so nonsensically brillliant I can see a genius at work. I love your example:

I have 2 x �100 overdrafts.
State of accounts: 2 x -�100. ie: - �200 (I'm following this okay so far!)
So -100 x 'take this away twice' =0 (Eh?)
So -100 x -2 0r 'take it away twice' = back to the decimal point! + 200 or 0 in the bank!! (Eh? Eh?)

By the way: what is a Steiner school? Is it the Steiner- a brilliant mathematician as you well know. Confess!

[rosamundjohn]

Factor. Me mischievous? ! DO spell this correctly please. Neither MISCHIEVOUS nor mischief-making, just suffering from MISCONCEPTION and certainly not MISDEMEANOURS . One has to understand Mathematics, not just learn the rules. I am the perfect student. Just blocked.
Steiner was the man who set up schools to teach people how to learn. The system we have now does not seem to work. I have a friend who has sent his children there although I must say they have almost all turned out disfunctional.
I mentioned this to my father one day-he was the one who made me play with fruit on the table-hence the blockage- and he thinks that Steiner has it right. They do not teach a,b,c nor 1,2,3,4 -they play with blocks, they explore. It is unconventional but many educators agree with it. I think they teach you how to understand. I didn't go there! Maybe I should have.One has to understand Mathematics, nor just learn the rules is what I was told. What do you do for a living, if I may be so impertinent? You don't have to tell me. If you ask me what I do, you may be horrified!!!!
My mind is boggling...........! Rosax

[Bloss]

Rosa

Is FACTOR reading the whole thread or just your bits?! You quoting my example makes you a genius!!! Don't you think Factor should be giving me that credit?

I meant to say when I responded yesterday, that the earlier confusion and disagreement about 'right/through decimal point' is a misconeption on your part.

I think what you mean is that you move from positive to negative numbers - which is through ZERO - not a decimal point.
To move 'through he decimal point' is to move to numbers less than one. Anything which ONLY has numbers to the right of the decimal point is less than one. eg. 0.978

Your comment about the decimal point moving two places to the left for calculating 1%, results in the correct answer, but these days we normally say the NUMBERS are moving two spaces to the right. The decimal point stays in position - between the units and the tenths columns. The numbers (digits) move into different columns; if dividing by 100, all digits move two columns into those with lower 'place values'.

I hope, considering I am a maths teacher in a 'normal' school, that you might consider the possibility that teaching maths has improved. I try whenever possible to explain methods within a context - I find if money can be used as an example children understand better!!

I'm gonna give myself a break now and stop teaching for a bit!!

[rosamundjohn]

Bloss. yes. I agree with you about your philosophy of teaching maths to the masses. Money will help. Abstract ideas are only for the intellectuals like what I am.
I trust that you are on Easter Holiday-not at Easter -and have time to relax.
I am a genius on the decimal zero point as it has been hammered into me.Divide by ten means the numbers jump one space to the left and multiply means you jump to the right..