Answer :
Answer:
A. 5*(-8)*2=-80
B. Forgot about the signs
Step-by-step explanation:
Product of Signed Integers
The product of two integers with like (same) signs is positive. The product of two integers with different signs is negative.
A.
Alex is simplifying the product 5*(-8)*2. It can be done in any order, for example, let's multiply 5*(-8) first.
The numbers have different signs, so the product is negative and 8*5 =40, thus: 5*(-8)=-40.
Now we finish the operation multiplying (-40)*2. They have different signs, thus the result is negative and (-40)*2=-80, thus:
5*(-8)*2=-80
B.
If Alex found the opposite of the correct product, that is, 80 is more likely to have been the result of forgetting about the signs. He probably just multiplied the numbers regardless of their signs.