Negative × Negative = Positive in 5 Levels -- Elementary to Math Major

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 5. 06. 2024
  • Why is negative times negative equal to positive? Let's answer this question in 5 levels, ranging from intuitive examples based on our daily experiences to a proof in Ring Theory that is often only seen by math majors.

Komentáře • 407

  • @RubyPiec
    @RubyPiec Před 3 měsíci +2222

    Level 0: 4chan
    >turn around
    >turn around again
    >wtf im facing the same direction

    • @Fire_Axus
      @Fire_Axus Před 3 měsíci +37

      real

    • @dedede5586
      @dedede5586 Před 3 měsíci +506

      >don't turn around
      >don't turn around again
      >wtf i'm facing the same direction

    • @dazza2350
      @dazza2350 Před 3 měsíci +47

      >be me

    • @angeldude101
      @angeldude101 Před 3 měsíci +31

      ​@@dedede5586 That's positive times positive.

    • @angeldude101
      @angeldude101 Před 3 měsíci +161

      Turn 90°.
      Turn 90° again.
      Wtf, I'm facing backwards from how I was originally!
      And that is why i² = -1.

  • @beerilevinger6886
    @beerilevinger6886 Před 3 měsíci +1626

    I used to think of it like this: negative is "not", positive is "yes". Negative times positive is "not yes", which is "no" which is negative. And for negative times negative, it's "not no" which is yes, which is positive.

    • @samuraigaming0
      @samuraigaming0 Před 3 měsíci +51

      exactly how i think of it

    • @djfghjif
      @djfghjif Před 3 měsíci +81

      i use turn around and dont turn around

    • @beerilevinger6886
      @beerilevinger6886 Před 3 měsíci +9

      @@djfghjif that also works

    • @asheep7797
      @asheep7797 Před 3 měsíci +3

      So negative x negative = F in English.

    • @asheep7797
      @asheep7797 Před 3 měsíci +1

      So negative x negative = F in English.

  • @tranduy8219
    @tranduy8219 Před 3 měsíci +73

    In Vietnamese maths textbooks for grade 6, the intuitive explanation goes like this:
    (-5) ×3 = (-5) + (-5) + (5) = -15
    (-5) ×2 = (-5) +(-5) = -10
    (-5) ×1 = (-5)
    (-5) ×0 = 0
    There are clear arrows to indicate that as the 2nd factor decreases by 1, the product goes up by 5. And then students are asked to guess what happens when the factor keeps decreasing to negative values. I think it's intuitive enough for most students, haven't seen anyone struggle with this.

    • @violintegral
      @violintegral Před měsícem +11

      This pattern recognition technique also works well for teaching students how negative integer exponents work. They can see how decreasing the exponent by one is the same as dividing by the base, and continue that pattern into the negative integer exponents.

    • @cblpu5575
      @cblpu5575 Před 10 dny

      This also works for showing why factorial(0)=1

  • @givrally7634
    @givrally7634 Před 3 měsíci +812

    The fact that Negative × Negative = Positive doesn't not make sense, obviously.

    • @Fire_Axus
      @Fire_Axus Před 3 měsíci

      why

    • @CramcrumBrewbringer
      @CramcrumBrewbringer Před 3 měsíci +92

      @@Fire_Axus Re-read his statement carefully xD

    • @quixotix9540
      @quixotix9540 Před 3 měsíci +9

      amazing, +2

    • @Imotbro
      @Imotbro Před 3 měsíci +1

      This doesn't make a unreasonable reply, -(-1) ​@@quixotix9540

    • @whyre69
      @whyre69 Před 3 měsíci +59

      i don't think this comment isn't the best

  • @HenrikMyrhaug
    @HenrikMyrhaug Před 3 měsíci +131

    I like the 3rd proof, because it is intuitive and sets up a foundation for thinking of numbers in terms of directions, which is incredibly useful when learning immaginary numbers.
    If a negative means a 180° rotation, and rotations add up, then it is intuitive that i=sqrt(-1) represents a 90° rotation.

    • @mrwess1927
      @mrwess1927 Před 3 měsíci +1

      Very nice observation... an operator operating on a number set, some combine values while other encode rotation.. the way I saw it was the general idea behind all of the many concrete examples worked through in school. And life

    • @Erlewyn
      @Erlewyn Před 3 měsíci +1

      That's funny, I actually thought the 3rd proof was by far the hardest to understand 😅

    • @Kualinar
      @Kualinar Před 3 měsíci +2

      @@Erlewyn That proof was my reasoning that led me to realize that -1x-1=1... In Primary 3, by myself, without any input from my pretty bad teacher.

    • @pauselab5569
      @pauselab5569 Před 3 měsíci

      but there is nothing "directiony" about real numbers other than order. it feels like something act on another because an operation sends 2 elements to a single and it could be interpreted as a set of actions by currying.

    • @Milbyte11
      @Milbyte11 Před měsícem

      Thinking of the complex plane as a vector makes things way easier. Negation and multiplying by I is rotation, adding values is translation, and multiplying by positive reals is scaling

  • @nomzz8106
    @nomzz8106 Před 3 měsíci +49

    as a math major, my favourite one was still the number line explanation. if you thing of multiplying by negative as a reflection, reflecting twice just gives the original.

    • @PhotonBeast
      @PhotonBeast Před 3 měsíci +2

      As a non-math person, it made sense to me too ... but only once I started to think about imaginary numbers. Because a follow up question would be "Well, what if I do a half rotation?"

    • @kaderen8461
      @kaderen8461 Před 2 měsíci +3

      @@PhotonBeastthen things get complex

    • @meofamily4
      @meofamily4 Před 2 měsíci

      As a high-school math teacher, that's what I used in class.

    • @alien37._.
      @alien37._. Před 26 dny +2

      ​​@@PhotonBeast its complex but i can do it

  • @nicolastorres147
    @nicolastorres147 Před 3 měsíci +120

    The proof for non conmutative rings is the same, except we'd factor that -b at the right 😁

    • @hunterhunter2215
      @hunterhunter2215 Před 3 měsíci +2

      Thanks, I accidentally did it like that the first time and got very confused about where I allegedly used the commutative property😂😅

  • @skilzrus8965
    @skilzrus8965 Před 3 měsíci +102

    i was 100% expecting for you to pull out the complex plane.

    • @Kimbie
      @Kimbie Před 3 měsíci +10

      Which is what I'd use to explain it. If you view multiplication by a negative number as a 180° rotation on the pos/neg number line, suddenly it doesn't seem so weird that i exists, that i² is -1 or that multiplying by i is an orthogonal movement.

    • @jemm113
      @jemm113 Před 3 měsíci +9

      Imaginary numbers being dubbed “imaginary” will never not be one of the greatest unsung tragedies of modern mathematics, science, and philosophy! There should have been a greater push to re-dub them as “lateral” numbers and introduce the lateral number line and number/rotational plane far earlier in math instruction (or at all since many don’t even get to that point!)

    • @skilzrus8965
      @skilzrus8965 Před 3 měsíci +2

      @@jemm113 ok that makes sense

  • @sethius
    @sethius Před 3 měsíci +32

    I like how straight to the point you are

  • @yuborthedominator687
    @yuborthedominator687 Před 3 měsíci +8

    The reversed curse technique

  • @luisoncpp
    @luisoncpp Před 3 měsíci +6

    The enemy of your enemy is your friend

  • @muskyoxes
    @muskyoxes Před 3 měsíci +10

    Level 6: category theory. Guaranteed to make any simple fact mindbreakingly difficult

  • @afrolichesmain777
    @afrolichesmain777 Před 3 měsíci +16

    The multiplication of two negative numbers being positive clicked with me during my complex analysis course, akin to the level 3 you presented. In particular, representing negative numbers with euler’s formula and showing that multiplication leads to an angle of 2pi, which corresponds to the positive side of the real number line.

    • @willhampton6614
      @willhampton6614 Před měsícem

      Does this concept apply to complex numbers as well?

  • @despa7726
    @despa7726 Před 3 měsíci +5

    If you turn backward and walk backward, you are walking forward in the original direction

  • @iWantCorporalPunishment
    @iWantCorporalPunishment Před 3 měsíci +6

    You definitely deserve a lot more views. Love these '5 levels' of math topics 👏

  • @thegster589
    @thegster589 Před 3 měsíci +7

    Great video, not at all surprised you blew up so quickly. Hopefully the begining of a long CZcams career!

  • @vignesh0408
    @vignesh0408 Před 25 dny +1

    "I enjoyed your breakdown of the different types of rings, like commutative vs. non-commutative. Very informative!"

  • @vincentbutton5926
    @vincentbutton5926 Před 3 měsíci +17

    Nice intro to rings also.

  • @anneo8393
    @anneo8393 Před měsícem +1

    Wow, I feel like I've finally leveled up. This helped me actually understand how a proof for simple concepts works. After spending the last several months studying modular arithmetic and rings, it's finally clicking.

  • @kalin6739
    @kalin6739 Před 3 měsíci +2

    Got randomly recommended this and ended up watching a bunch of your videos. Hope ya keep making them! I majored in math but I think your videos are easy enough to understand and just about anyone can appreciate them. Easiest subscribe in a long time

    • @DrSeanGroathouse
      @DrSeanGroathouse  Před 3 měsíci +1

      Thanks! I really appreciate that

    • @V_V-V_V
      @V_V-V_V Před 3 měsíci

      @@DrSeanGroathouse Surprised to see such a young channel, first video is only 2 weeks ago like DAMN

  • @waleedkhalid7486
    @waleedkhalid7486 Před 3 měsíci +1

    I was actually thinking of this exact question earlier today when a student asked me what happens when you multiply negative numbers. I got up to level 3 on my own, but level 4 was my sweet spot. The concept of rings was interesting, but really only useful for math majors.

  • @yurisich
    @yurisich Před 3 měsíci +2

    If you imagine the number line as a sphere, the operation of multiplying by negative one is equivalent to rotating the sphere downwards (if using i, negative i is upwards) passing through the complex modulus a la e**iπ. Factoring out (-2)(-3) to -1(2)•-1(3), you end up at positive six, and travel through both poles in the complex plane to arrive at positive 6.

  • @jackinzbox.
    @jackinzbox. Před 2 měsíci +2

    Even as an engineering student who has a ton of math experience I still think about it as a (-) x (-) = + since one negative sign rotates and combines with the other - to physically create a + sign. Than a (-) x (+) = - since the - erases a line from the plus leaving you with a -. Does it make any sense…. no not really. But did it make sense to 8 year old me… yup!

  • @rovicmartecio2440
    @rovicmartecio2440 Před 3 měsíci +7

    Sir, I'm a 10th grade student from The Philippines and I've been watching your videos since last month. Looking forward for more interesting videos and thank you!

  • @vancedforU
    @vancedforU Před 3 měsíci

    when I was in elementary school, I thought of it as flipping the whole number line, so flipping it twice is the same as the original
    if you apply the inverse of negative to the number line, it's the same as flipping in the other direction ends up looking the same as applying the negative to it, which explains why 1÷(-1)=-1
    after learning about complex numbers, I thought of it is rotating the number line instead of flipping

  • @MrMulleteer
    @MrMulleteer Před 3 měsíci +3

    I feel it's easier to understand intuitively through division. Negative number divided by a negative number is positive because thats how many times it can be divided. And division can be easily shown as multiplication.

    • @johnmaguire2185
      @johnmaguire2185 Před 3 měsíci

      Not sure why you think that. The question from a class would be. 9 divided by negative three how can you get a negative answer in division?

    • @MrMulleteer
      @MrMulleteer Před 3 měsíci

      @@johnmaguire2185 I think it in terms that negative fraction is a positive fraction multiplied by -1.

  • @diogeneslaertius3365
    @diogeneslaertius3365 Před 3 měsíci +8

    Level 4 is level 5 with numbers.

  • @eveneveneveneven
    @eveneveneveneven Před 2 měsíci +1

    I like the expansion of understanding of mulitplication which also holds for complex numbers. A number can be expressed as a length and an angle. A positive number has angle zero, while a negative number has angle pi (or 180 degrees if you don't like radians). I.e. the number 1 can be expressed as length = 1, angle = 0. And -2 could be expressed as length = 2, angle = pi. Multiplication is then an operator which multiply the lengths (which are positive and purely real) and add together the angles. So (-2)(-3) yields length = 2*3 = 6 and angle = pi+pi = 2*pi (which is 0 since angles are mod 2"pi).
    Interestingly, this holds for complex numbers as well. I.e. i is length = 1, angle = pi/2. With that, it's pretty simple to intuitively perform multiplication within the complex space.

  • @scrungozeclown836
    @scrungozeclown836 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Using the properties of imaginary multiplication in the 2d plane, where multiplying two numbers looks like adding their angles (from the x-axis) and multiplying their distances from the origin, multiplying two negative numbers looks like multiplying their distances, then adding 180°+180°, for 360°, or 0°

  • @jamiewalker329
    @jamiewalker329 Před měsícem

    It's good to get pupils to derive it themselves. Create a a coordinate system and at each point in the first quadrant get them to enter a number which is equal to the product of the x and y coordinate. They will then see arithmetic sequences (times tables) when considering constant x and constant y. Ask them to extrapolate sensibly into the 2nd and 4th quadrants, and then again into the 3rd quadrant. To keep the structure of arithmetic sequences they will see that all the entries in the 3rd quadrant are positive.

  • @hermanthegerman9874
    @hermanthegerman9874 Před 2 měsíci

    I used to think of the multiplication by -1 as rotating the location vector to the number I’m multiplying on the number line with -1 by 180 degrees around the 0 point. Thus 1 times -1 times -1 yields a rotation by 360 degrees, putting me back to where I started, positive 1. This visualization also comes in handy when trying to get a grasp on the complex plain and understanding why the square root of -1 is orthogonal to the number line. Because instead of rotating by 180 degrees, you just rotate by 90 degrees. And Sqrt -1 times Sqrt -1 is rotating by 90 degrees two times giving you the 180 degrees of the multiplication by -1. There you go.

  • @besusbb
    @besusbb Před 3 měsíci +8

    Here's an approach from the set theoretic construction of integers built on top of set theoretic construction of natural numbers, natural number addition and natural number multiplications (no subtractions yet):
    You can define an equivalence relation ~ between a pairs of natural numbers: (a, b) ~ (c, d) if and only if a + d = b + c.
    To prove that it is in fact an equivalent relation I will prove its 3 defining properties:
    1. Reflexivity: a + b = a + b, therefore (a, b) ~ (a, b)
    2. Symmetry: a + d = b + c if and only if b + c = a + d, therefore (a, b) ~ (c, d) if and only if (c, d) ~ (a, b)
    3. Transitivity:
    Assume a + d = b + c (a, b) ~ (c, d)
    Assume c + e = d + f (c, d) ~ (e, f)
    Therefore a + d + c + e = b + c + d + f
    a + e + c + d = b + f + c + d
    a + e = b + f (a, b) ~ (e, f) (This last line is based on x = z x + y = z + y which is trivial)
    Then, you can define equivalence classes under the ~ relation. Let's use the notation [(a, b)] to represent the equivalence class with (a, b) in it.
    So, for example, the equiv. class that contains the pair (1, 3) will also contain (2, 4) because 1 + 4 = 3 + 2, will also contain (0, 2) because 1 + 2 = 3 + 0, etc.
    The underlying motivation here is that if you swap a + d = b + c around, you get a - b = c - d, and [(0,2)] represents 0 - 2 = 3 - 4 = -2, but without having to have subtraction and negative numbers already defined.
    Then you can define positive integers as any equivalence class that contains (x, 0) where x is a non zero natural number.
    You can also negative integers as any equivalence class that contains (0, x) where x is a non zero natural number.
    The proof for how the set of positive and negative integers don't intersect as a little sanity check for these definition, by contradiction:
    Assume A is a positive integer that is also a negative integer.
    Therefore A can be represented as (x, 0) where x is a non zero natural number.
    Therefore A can be represented as (0, y) where y is a non zero natural number.
    That is, A = [(x, 0)] = [(0, y)]. That is, (x, 0) and (0, y) is in the same equivalent class A.
    That is, (x, 0) ~ (0, y), which happens if and only if x + y = 0 + 0 = 0, which is a contradiction since both x and y are non zero natural numbers.
    Therefore A cannot exist.
    Since natural number addition and multiplication is defined, you can define integer addition as [(a, b)] + [(c, d)] = [(a + c, b + d)] and integer multiplication as [(a, b)] . [(c, d)] = [(ac + bd, ad + bc)].
    As far as I know, this is the canon way to construct the set of integers along with integer addition and integer multiplication.
    Then, from this definition, you can have two integers A = [(0, x)] and B = [(0, y)] where x, y are non zero natural numbers, therefore A and B is negative.
    Multiplying integers A and B, you'd get the integer [(0*0 + xy, 0*y + x*0)] = [(xy, 0)]. This integer fits in the definition of positive integers that we've defined above.
    The rational numbers are built from equivalence classes of pairs of integers, the same way integers are built from equivalent classes of natural numbers, but with a different equivalent relation. The proof for that from definition wouldn't be as exciting because it would mostly use the result proven above in one way or another, and for real numbers (which are btw constructed in an entirely different way as Dedekind cuts) it's just an identity in real number multiplication's definition, which is not really exciting to be honest.
    Hope I haven't made mistakes lol.

    • @globglogabgalabyeast6611
      @globglogabgalabyeast6611 Před 3 měsíci

      Near the end of your second paragraph, you wrote a+e=c+f instead of a+e=b+f

    • @besusbb
      @besusbb Před 3 měsíci

      @@globglogabgalabyeast6611 thx for the correction i've fixed it now

  • @lit1041
    @lit1041 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Very interesting video! Your explanation of the ring is incredibly clear, and most importantly, it makes clear a very important thing in all of mathematics: apparently, all mathematical operations are determined by their properties. The same can be said about physical quantities - they are all nothing more than numbers, but their key difference from random numbers is that they have properties that reflect processes in the physical world. Definitely like!

  • @lakshmig2061
    @lakshmig2061 Před 3 měsíci

    Really a nice explanation..i like math a lot, now teaching my middle schooler and elementary...your videoa are invaluable

  • @sciphyskyguy4337
    @sciphyskyguy4337 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Removing sadness leaves you happier

  • @Moody2616
    @Moody2616 Před 3 měsíci +3

    I thought he was going to talk about the complex plane, multypling two numbers with angle π (negative) give us a number with angle 2π (positive) because we add the angles.

    • @gubblfisch350
      @gubblfisch350 Před 3 měsíci

      That's one way I immediately thought about it

  • @locopenguin6161
    @locopenguin6161 Před 3 měsíci

    Id love to see a video like this on the idea of mathamaticl proofs. Thank you for this.

  • @lattetown
    @lattetown Před 3 měsíci

    In the intuitive example, I think the person is left with 6 cookies, because it is equivalent to say 6 cookies are put into my 🍪 jar or left in my possession outside of a jar. I think of multiplication and division as the same as adding full containers of the same size. For example, 12 eggs is the same as a carton of a dozen eggs. Multiplication is just adding up cartons: 1/2 of a carton is splitting the carton into two, each with 6 eggs, but I still possess all 12 eggs. The trick is that we are implying that changing the size of a group also means we lose possession of some of the contents and groups. But perhaps we could interpret x/0 to mean the information possessed is ungrouped...and so has to be counted individually.

  • @javierramirez637
    @javierramirez637 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Thanks Dr. S, I wish you luck in your growing channel 🥳

  • @dustinvidrine3954
    @dustinvidrine3954 Před 3 měsíci

    Awesome. I'm relearning math to get better for engineering. This helps so much, although simple it helps me actually understand the math vs just learning by memorizing formulas. Can you make one on why we set use zero property rule for quadratics? I can't understand the purpose of making the equation equal to zero.

  • @ollieoniel
    @ollieoniel Před 2 měsíci +1

    I always thought it was a function with 2 inputs and with that you can define any list of relationships you want with a two input function. So it was because we say it is so.

  • @TOKITO_422
    @TOKITO_422 Před 3 měsíci

    Thank you so so much! I
    You teach very good logic at math and thats what i have been craving for years!

  • @parker9012
    @parker9012 Před 3 měsíci +4

    The first thing i thought of was rotations in the complex plane. Two 180 rotations just end up at the same place

  • @junaid9648
    @junaid9648 Před 2 měsíci

    keep up the good work...
    May the mighty bless you..

  • @bhgtree
    @bhgtree Před 3 měsíci

    Thank you so much for this, I came upon a version of the last Ring proof in an OU maths course in the 1990's but forgot it.

  • @Otzkar
    @Otzkar Před 26 dny

    i feel kinda stupid for having to look up what distributive propertys are but I feel really good for understanding it now.. I cant believe I went so long trying to rearange formulas with this pretty basic concept but Im glad I got it now

  • @mettataurr
    @mettataurr Před 3 měsíci +1

    yaaay keep the series going

  • @NicolasMiari
    @NicolasMiari Před 3 měsíci +1

    The rules for rings are defined that way because we want them to be useful and generalize the idea of integers, i.e. counting stuff like sheep and yes, debts too.

  • @anthonyreddude4713
    @anthonyreddude4713 Před 3 měsíci

    It is cool to see Level 5 after just learning about Vector Spaces in my linear algebra class. It was not taught to me as 'rings' the first 7 properties at 5:26 were the same as my textbook, however, the 8th one was '1v = v'. Anyways, cool to see and nice video.

  • @DarthCalculus
    @DarthCalculus Před 2 měsíci

    My favorite is multiplication as rotation of a vector in the complex plane. Multiplying by a negative is multiplying by 180°. To multiply a negative by a negative is to rotate by 360°, which is identical to 0°, or positive.

  • @mohammedelsuissey1745
    @mohammedelsuissey1745 Před 3 měsíci +1

    You've described the ring theory and the twelve hours ring, but you've used the same proof from step three again in step five, ie you didn't need to use the ring theory at all, but thanks for explaining the interesting theory though 😊😊

  • @cartermurphy1618
    @cartermurphy1618 Před 3 měsíci +2

    An attempt at a proof by contradiction (I have never taken a formal proofs class, so I won’t be surprised if I have made a mistake somewhere)-
    Let a, b, and c be arbitrary, strictly positive numbers > 0. Assume that (-a)*(-b)=(-c) for some a, b, and c.
    We can factor out a negative one from some of these numbers. Rewrite (-b) as (-1)*(b) and (-c) as (-1)*(c) :
    (-a)*(-1)*(b) = (-1)*(c)
    divide both sides by negative 1:
    (-a)*(b) = (c)
    (does this step implicitly assume that negative times negative is positive? not sure)
    an this point, we can see that the left side must be negative, and the right side is positive, since a, b, and c were chosen as strictly positive. this is a contradiction, meaning that negative times negative cannot equal negative!

    • @deedeetaylor8251
      @deedeetaylor8251 Před 3 měsíci

      So I've studied a little bit on formal proof's but I'm not a mathematician (just studying Comp Sci) so could also be wrong here.
      You can use this proof to show -1/-1 = 1 without assuming negative * negative is positive:
      let a be a non-zero number:
      a/a = (a)^1 * (a)^(-1) = (a)^(1 -- 1) =a^0 = 1
      Thinking about your proof also made me think of a proof, although I may be doing something I can't do:
      let x,y be any positive (>0) real numbers:
      assume -x * -y 0)
      By our above proof:
      (-x)/(-x) = 1
      (-x) * 1/(-x) = 1
      we know 1/n != 0 for any non-zero real n, so 1/(-x) is not zero.
      Since -x is negative, if 1/(-x) were positive then:
      (-x) * (1/-x) < 0
      Thus:
      by exhaustion 1/(-x) must be negative
      Thus
      1 0

  • @markwinfield1679
    @markwinfield1679 Před 2 měsíci

    I use the last method with all students from 11 years old up. I don't talk about ring theory just algebra after they have learnt to expand brackets and to factorise.

  • @michaelemerson1501
    @michaelemerson1501 Před 3 měsíci +2

    Very helpful, thank you. 🎉

  • @user-ro6wo2dp1e
    @user-ro6wo2dp1e Před 2 měsíci

    I'd love to see a "subtracting a negative" is like adding video, please!!

  • @sorrybabyx
    @sorrybabyx Před 3 měsíci +1

    Im loving these videos so much!!

  • @prdoyle
    @prdoyle Před 3 měsíci

    That level 4 one is great!

  • @TheDuckTeamYT
    @TheDuckTeamYT Před 3 měsíci

    This is pretty neat, definitely will show to my younger siblings!

  • @tuliptuliptuliptuliptulipt6533

    Here is one using the construction of the integers:
    Integers are defined as equivalence classes on N^2 where (a,b)~(c,d) if a+d=c+b.
    All equivalence classes can be written in the form [(a,0)] or [(0,a)]. Ones in the form [(a,0)] are just denoted as a and ones in the form [(0,a)] are denoted as -a
    Multiplication is defined as [(a,b)] * [(c,d)] = [(ac+bd,ad+bc)].
    We have -1*-1=[(0,1)]*[(0,1)]=[(0*0+1*1,0*1+1*0)]=[(1,0)]=1

  • @andrejss10
    @andrejss10 Před 3 měsíci

    Very good video, u are really good at explaining. The only critique i have is that i would not call level 5 math major as i did the concept of rings in uni in like the first semester. I study computer science

  • @Rbksmn
    @Rbksmn Před 3 měsíci +1

    A math teacher explains all the properties of multiplication to the class and concludes: "While two negatives make a positive, there is no way two positives make a negative"
    And from the back of the class, someone comments: "Yeah, right".

  • @GAMEDATA1010
    @GAMEDATA1010 Před 3 měsíci

    when any complex number (real numbers are a subset of the complex numbers) is multiplied by another complex number their magnitudes are multiplied (this will always be a positive real number so no need to fight the negative multiplication basis here) and their phases are added (phase ranges from 0 to 2*pi with the modulus of any phase greater or equal to 2pi to bring it back) since the positive numbers have a phase of 0 0+0 = 0 and the negative numbers have a phase of pi pi+pi = 2pi since this is equal to or greater than 2pi then when we do the modulus it goes back to 0
    its as simple as that we just gotta take a trip to the world of complex numbers

  • @angelguy1044
    @angelguy1044 Před 3 měsíci +21

    Another video from the goat! Just solved one of IMO questions and here is my reward video!

  • @EggZu_
    @EggZu_ Před 3 měsíci

    I remember learning about multiplying by negatives and thought "if I multiply them together do you get positive" yea I was kinda a child prodigy

  • @4thwallbreaker843
    @4thwallbreaker843 Před 3 měsíci

    The way how I think of negative numbers is this:
    I picture a graph of a number line in my head.
    Positive numbers are at the right while negative numbers are at the left and zero is at the middle. When I add a number with positive value, the position of said value moves to the right. When I add a number by a negative value, the direction is reversed.
    When I multiply a number by a positive number, the position of the number that is multiplied remains the same, then the value gets multipled and moved. When I multiply a number by a negative value, the position of the number being multiplied gets "mirrored", that being the number being converted into a negative value.
    When the multiplier is greater than 1 or less than -1, the value moves away from 0. When the multiplier = (-1 , 1), excluding zero, the value is moved towards 0. When the multiplier is zero, the value moces straight to 0.
    For division, the direction is reversed compared to multiplication. However, in the case where the divisor is 0, if the multiplied number is not 0, it cannot be any value. If the multiplied nunber is 0, it "technically" can be any number. However, that would be useless and a worthless excuse to use this number to answer every mathematical problems so it is written as "undefined" instead.
    For exponentiation, specifically when the exponents are even numbers, "mirrored" values (Negative values) and "normal" values (Positive values) are presented. Roots are the reverse of exponentiations except that if the exponent is an even number, it can only represent one of the possible value (Example: √4 = 2 and only 2, while -√4 = -2 and only -2).
    I might have explained the concept of negative values as the literal traditional definition of it but personally, I understand them this way. There might be some flaws in them though.

  • @weatherupstairs4814
    @weatherupstairs4814 Před 3 měsíci

    I'm trying to research logic systems, and I'm running up against constructivism and paraconsistent logic. I know that YT isn’t the ideal place to ask in-depth questions, but perhaps you can point me toward some logic literature in the field? Specifically, (how) are double-negation and apartness related, and are double-negation and equivalence a problem for binary logic/LEM?

  • @wiktoraugustyn1149
    @wiktoraugustyn1149 Před 16 dny

    I was literally in the shower thinking „what is the actual mathematical proof of neg x neg = pos” and after i came out of the shower and open yt this showed up.

  • @redbyte8259
    @redbyte8259 Před měsícem

    I find that it is easier to understand with the complex numbers. If you multiply a complex number by i, it is shifted by π/2(90°):
    1 * i = i
    i * i = -1
    -1 * i = -i
    -i * i = 1
    And if you now multiply by -1 instead of multiplying by i, the angle of rotation doubles, i.e. π/2 becomes π(180°).

  • @alejandrocuneo7081
    @alejandrocuneo7081 Před 3 měsíci

    The first meaning that we give to multiplication is adding a number repeatedly. The two numbers involved in the multiplications have very different meaning, the first one indicating which number will be added repeatedly and the second one indicating how many times is this going to happen. From the significance point of view factors are not interchangeable. Negative numbers are introduced to manage situations that are hard to manage using only natural numbers, in fact you would need to use two sets of natural numbers and quantities of one of these sets cancel out with corresponding quantities from the other one. So i think that before answering what -ax-b means we should answer what meaning can be given to repeating addition a negative number of times. But it turns out that repetitions are also quantities that can be sometimes considered of two different kinds that cancel each other: in your second example you mentioned a friend who repeatedly gives or repeatedly takes away the same quantity, there can also be repetitions from this point in time to the future vs repetitions in the past to this point in time: form example if my account now is 0 and a friend has deposited 5 dollars in my account for the past 3 days, it means that my account was -15 dollars 3 days ago. Using the same example if my account was debited 5 dollar for the las three days and now is 0, it means that 3 days ago y had 15 dollars, thus -5x-3=15. My point here is that you basic example is more basic than the first because the first involves continuity and the second one doesn't, but also because it better addresses the questions young students have when they try to reconcile this new "rule" with what they previously knew about this operation.

  • @mahmoud-badwy
    @mahmoud-badwy Před 3 měsíci

    Can it be proven by expressing the real numbers as complex numbers and then completing the process of multiplying the numbers?

  • @odysseas573
    @odysseas573 Před 2 měsíci

    The level 5 brought back memories of Spivak's Calculus.

  • @akraminfo
    @akraminfo Před 3 měsíci

    Level 6: The positive reals P are a subgroup of the multiplicative group of reals. The reals are then partitioned into two cosets, P and
    -P (negative reals). The quotient group is then the cyclic group of order 2, and negative * negative = positive. By definition of multiplication in the quotient group, this means that a negative real times another negative gives a positive.
    I believe this isn't circular because the only things you have to know about the group is that the negative reals and the positive reals are disjoint and their union gives R, and that the positive reals are stable.

  • @yxseen.szn_
    @yxseen.szn_ Před 3 měsíci +1

    So Level 5 is just a generalization of Level 4, or Level 4 is an example in the ring of integers of Level 5?

  • @db7213
    @db7213 Před 3 měsíci

    I would use -1 = e^(pi*i). So (-1) * (-1) = (e^(pi*i)) * (e^(pi*i)) = e^(2*pi*i). And by looking at the unit circle we can see that e^(2*pi*i) = 1.
    Although I guess complex numbers already rely on (-1) *( -1) = 1 so this might be circular.

  • @skimmelsvamp9531
    @skimmelsvamp9531 Před 3 měsíci

    At my university i was taught since you can prove -x=(-1)x=x(-1), the fact that multiplication in a ring is associative means that you can "migrate" the minus signs in the expression (-x)(-y) to the front, and get (-x)(-y)=(-1)(-1)xy. Which can then be shown to be equal to xy.

    • @MadocComadrin
      @MadocComadrin Před 3 měsíci

      Yep. You can also prove -x=-1x=x(-1) from (-a)(-b) = ab as well.

  • @BolsaMB
    @BolsaMB Před 2 měsíci

    That moment he reached Level 5 Ring and you realized you have to take dog for a walk ...

  • @Mihawk-my1vn
    @Mihawk-my1vn Před 3 měsíci

    I thought you would use the line method for level 1. Just counting the number of lines and if the number is a multiple of 2 it is positive. - is 1 line and + is 2. You could only count the number of - in general.

  • @Red-Brick-Dream
    @Red-Brick-Dream Před 3 měsíci

    The fact that this needs to be explained to more than a single-digit percentage of grown adults ought to _terrify_ us.

  • @Harkmagic
    @Harkmagic Před 3 měsíci

    I used complex numbers once.
    A mathematics major wanted a geometric proof that really made it clear how and why multiplying by by a negative does what it does. Something like you might see on 3blue1brown.
    So I said you start with 1 on the complex plane.
    Now multiply 1 by i and you see how it rotated that 1 90 degrees to the i position.
    Now multiply by i again and it rotates another 90 degrees to the -1 position.
    This multiplying by i twice is that same multiplying by -1.
    What you get is that multiplying by a negative is the same as rotating 180 degrees on the complex plane.
    If you doubt this you can take smaller increments and watch as you march around the unit circle. It would probably be a fun animated video proof to watch.

  • @DimitriSabadie
    @DimitriSabadie Před 2 měsíci

    Yeah, the way I think about negative operations is basically via boolean algebra, as it’s easier to reason about values encoded on a single bit. You can draw a 2×4 table with all possible bit combination, and realize that this negative operation is basically the same as the NOT boolean operator. A true value is +P, and a false value is -P.. Negating simply flips the sign. So -(+P) is -P, -(-P) is +P.
    Then, -a * -b is the same as first doing a * -b, and flipping the result sign, which ends up positive.

  • @loloolaf6359
    @loloolaf6359 Před 3 měsíci

    You can build so many proof of this law, using different level in math's.
    Saying that's exponential is a group morphism from C to C* with 2piZ as a kernel.
    Or using the Euclidean division in the polynomial ring, writing X^2=(X-1)(X+1)+1 and that - 1 is the unique root of X+1 in Z[X].
    Here are the proof that comes immediately at my mind.

  • @Lucaazade
    @Lucaazade Před 3 měsíci

    Haven’t seen level 4/5 done like that before. I would go more like
    1. -(-a) = a. Any definition I can think of is obviously symmetric, e.g. if b is called -a when a + b = 0 then a is also -b.
    2. (-a)(-b) = ? = -(-a)(b) = ab if you can justify moving the -…
    3. -a = (-1)a. No trick: Just check that (-1)a is -a. (-1)a + a = (-1 + 1)a = 0a = 0.
    4. 0a = 0. Same way in video :-)

  • @hydropage2855
    @hydropage2855 Před 20 dny +1

    Is it just me, or is a ring just a vector space? I swear that’s what I learned is the definition of a vector space

  • @CommanderdMtllca
    @CommanderdMtllca Před 3 měsíci

    multiplying by i in the complex plane is a rotation of 90 deg. multiplying by i twice is the same as multiplying by -1. Do that again and we rotate a full 360 getting back to a positive number!

  • @coldandafraid
    @coldandafraid Před 3 měsíci

    Visualization, realization, numericization, abstraction, arbitration

  • @teezettsb
    @teezettsb Před měsícem

    In complex number plane -1 = e^(pi*i) is rotating 180 degrees. So (-1)^2 = e^(2*pi*i) = e^0 = 1

  • @geoffbeidler
    @geoffbeidler Před 3 měsíci

    Don't forget about the complex plane and Euler's Identity. Negative real numbers have an angle of pi, so their products have an angle of 2 pi, which brings you right back to the positive real numbers.

  • @anthonycannet1305
    @anthonycannet1305 Před 2 měsíci

    Would it be possible to use complex numbers to prove it? Because multiplying by i is the same as a 90 degree rotation, and i*i = -1. 4 i’s is 4 90 degree rotations which is 360 degrees. i*i*i*i = 1, and i*i = -1, so (i*i)*(i*i)=1 and (-1)*(-1)=1

  • @kennyalbano1922
    @kennyalbano1922 Před 3 měsíci

    Funny enough I understand the ring theory one after pausing the video a number of times and understand level 2 and 3 but I have trouble understanding level 1 and level 4 still. Also math use to be my best subject in school and is still my favorite subject and when I was studying computer science in college I dropped out in part from failing to understand proofs in my discrete math 2 class and received F- three semesters in a row with three separate professors. I saw multiple tutors read from the textbook, looked for online help on khan academy. The entire class was 100% proof based and I had never done a proof in my life before this class. The proof with ring theory where you show the equality between the quantities negative an and negaitive b multiplied together being equal to that same quantity when added to the quantity (a multiplied by 0). Which is equivalent to the original equality when added to the quantity a when multiplied by the quantity (negative b plus b) which is equal when the latter is distributed to the quantity a multiplied by the quantity negative b plus the quantity a multiplied by b. I think my problem is I never knew what axioms I was allowed to use in my class. I never understood how to start a proof and what can be assumed within any given proof. I can read a proof but how do you know if you can use the distributive property or use the property that multiplying a number by zero gives zero. Or the product of an odd and an even number is odd. Or the product of two odd numbers is even. Or the product of two negatives is positive. I never understood what can and can of be take. As axioms within my class for any given math problem.

    • @DrSeanGroathouse
      @DrSeanGroathouse  Před 3 měsíci +1

      The first proofs class is definitely tough, as you saw even a lot of the tutors needed to search for help! I think you're right that figuring out what exactly are the axioms, and what we're allowed to use, is often the toughest part. And sometimes those expectations can depend on the instructor. I remember in one class I solved a problem, and my instructor wrote "I would have just assumed this first part." It can be difficult to know how far down you're expected to prove everything on a homework or test. Thanks for sharing your experiences!

  • @chupa4554
    @chupa4554 Před měsícem

    The way I see it is this:
    On a number line, each sides “negative” direction is towards 0 and through the other end of 0. 2-3 being 2 towards 0 and 1 through 0 from the right side. And each sides positive direction is farther away from 0.
    Thus,
    2 x 3 = 2 + 2 + 2
    Adding 2 in the positive direction (right) 3 times, getting further away from 0.
    -2 x 3 = -2 + -2 + -2
    Adding 2 in the negative direction (left) 3 times. Think of it as starting on the right side of 0 and going through 0 in the negative direction (towards 0).
    -2 x -3 = -2 - -2 - -2
    Subtracting 2 in the “negative”direction 3 times. Think of it as starting from the left (negative) side of 0, and going towards and through 0, in the left sides “negative” direction, which is really the right sides positive direction. Thus meaning that it really is just going positively

  • @thiccalbert
    @thiccalbert Před měsícem

    I absolutely love this channel and the way you explain topics in 5 levels. You just earned a sub

  • @ralphvangelderen68
    @ralphvangelderen68 Před 3 měsíci

    It's not a proof, but intuitively works:
    If you can agree that multiplying bij -1 is just flipping a number's sign. Which I think makes sense.
    If you also agree that (-a)(b) =-ab. Which also makes sense, because this is just adding -a b times: (-2)(3)= (-2)+(-2)+(-2). I.e. shifting three time 2 to the left on the number line.
    Then it follows: (-a)(-b) = (-1)(a)(-b) = (-1)(-ab) = ab

  • @youhavefaith289
    @youhavefaith289 Před 3 měsíci

    Just think of the second negative sign rotating 90 degrees and creating a perpendicular bisect with the original minus sign

  • @wiellnyan
    @wiellnyan Před 23 dny

    a*e^(i*pi)*b*e^(i*pi)=a*b*e^(2*pi*i), assuming a and b are positive real numbers, as a magnitude cannot be negative, and multiplying by zero will yield in a non-positive and non-negative solution.

  • @DoctressCalibrator
    @DoctressCalibrator Před 3 měsíci +1

    1:40 if my friend takes 3 of my depths It's not the same as multiplying -3 by -5

  • @angelguy1044
    @angelguy1044 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Another method is to imagine that it's a slope. Were if slope goes back in x-axis and goes down in y-axis, it turns positive. Maybe didn't say it right but you do get the idea.

    • @nicolasbenincampi
      @nicolasbenincampi Před 3 měsíci

      I don't get the idea bro

    • @angelguy1044
      @angelguy1044 Před 3 měsíci

      @@nicolasbenincampi watch a video about y=mx+b, should help to understand it more.

  • @staceynainlab888
    @staceynainlab888 Před 6 dny

    the way I always understood is this: 5x10 is five tens, 50. -5x10 is negative five tens, -50. -5x-10 is negative five negative tens. a negative negative is a positive

  • @xavnqesh1416
    @xavnqesh1416 Před 3 měsíci

    I keep it like this. So when somebody says something like two negatives eg: "I don't need nobody". So it says he doesn't need nobody meaning that he wants somebody. Aka: Negative times Negative = Positive.

  • @ENDI8089
    @ENDI8089 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Your friend was asked how to pay his debts but took "triple it" and pass it to the next person to a wholecbew level

  • @binbots
    @binbots Před 3 měsíci +3

    I like to think of this from a statistical standpoint. You can combine + and - in 4 different ways. (+)x(+), (+)x(-), (-)x(+) and (-)x(-). If you threw a dart randomly at the number line then your answer would have a 50/50 to be (+) or (-). Each one of these 4 combinations accounts for %25 of the answers. Starting with the axiom that a +x+=+ which is %25 of your answers. Then that +x- must also be %25 of your answers and that -x+ is the same so together count for %50 of the answers therefore must be -. Leaving the last %25 (-)x(-) which must be +.