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Repeated Addition Concept

publish date: 2026/04/29 20:38:00 UTC

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Multiplication can be thought of as repeated addition. The expression \( 3(-5) \) is the same as:

(-5) + (-5) + (-5)

3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3

(-3) + (-3) + (-3)

5 + 5 + 5

(-5) + (-5) + (-5)

The book explains that \( 3(-5) \) means the sum of three \( -5 \)'s: \( (-5) + (-5) + (-5) = -15 \).

Mathematics for college students