Example

Translating 'the product of 2-2 and 1414'

Translate the phrase "the product of 2-2 and 1414" into an algebraic expression and simplify:

The keyword product signals multiplication. The prepositions of and and identify the two factors: 2-2 and 1414. The translation is:

(2)(14)(-2)(14)

The factors have different signs (one negative, one positive), so the product is negative:

(2)(14)=28(-2)(14) = -28

The same "the [operation keyword] of [first value] and [second value]" translation pattern applies to multiplication with negative integers, just as it does with positive numbers or variables. Only the sign rule for the final computation changes.

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Updated 2026-04-21

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