How can you represent - 5 × - 4 with a model?(1 point) Responses - 5 + - 5 + - 5 + - 5 - 5 + - 5 + - 5 + - 5 - ( - 4 + - 4 + - 4 + - 4 + - 4 ) - ( - 4 + - 4 + - 4 + - 4 + - 4 ) 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 - ( 5 × 4 )

1 answer

To represent -5 × -4 with a model, we can recognize that multiplying two negative numbers results in a positive number. In this case, -5 × -4 equals +20.

To illustrate this with a model, we can visualize it as follows:

  • One way to think about -5 × -4 is to consider it as "5 groups of -4," with the negative sign indicating the direction of each group. However, since we have two negatives (the two negatives in -5 and -4), we can interpret this as saying that we are reversing the direction.

The correct representation in the context of the options you've given is:

  • (- ( - 4 + - 4 + - 4 + - 4 + - 4 )) → which translates to grouping negative fours a total of 5 times, indicating that the negatives cancel each other out.

In a simpler form, thinking of it this way:

  • Since multiplying two negative values gives a positive value, -5 × -4 can effectively be thought of as:

  • (5 × 4) = 20

So the most appropriate option you have provided would be:

  • ( - ( - 4 + - 4 + - 4 + - 4 + - 4 ) )

However, the exact answer will depend on the specifics of your model representation method.