Use English--double negative

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Home : 2004 : November : 29

Use English--double negative
By torya

I use a double negative in language--something like I can't not go to the party. What we mean is that we must go to the party. The double negative cancels each other out. That is how I explain why multiplying a negative times
a negative is a positive. Also, you can explain addition and subtraction in terms of a checkbook if you are working with an age group that understands basic checking concepts. I have found it very useful for remedial math at the college level (Intermediate Algebra). For example: I am 5 dollars overdrawn (-5) and I write a check for 3 dollars. (-3) I am now 8 dollars overdrawn. (-5-3=-8)

I have really good success with both of those analogies and have had students comment on how helpful thwy were for helping them understand negatives. You can also use a deck of cards for practice. Use only the numbered cards and the red cards are negative numbers and the black cards are positive numbers. The students play each other by each laying down a card and then seeing who can guess the right answer to the sum, difference, or product first. They can check with a calculator if needed.