To multiply integers using Algebra Tiles make sure you have the small one unit squares cut out. It is a good idea to have 2 sets cut out or 54 squares.

Remember, the colored side is the POSITIVE quantity and the blank, back side represents the NEGATIVE quantity.

In any multiplication of integers problem, the first number tells you how many groups of tiles to add to the pit (+), or remove from the pit (-).

The second number tells you what will be inside of each group.

For example, let's say you want to find
3 x (-2) = ?

This would mean you are adding 3 groups of -2 tiles to the pit.

Let's try a harder one.

Say you wanted to find
-4 x (-2) = ?

This means you need to remove 4 groups of -2 from the pit.

To do this we will have to fill the pit with a bunch of ZEROS.

*Remember that a ZERO is created whenever we place a positive tile directly beside a negative tile. They nullify each other.

Basically, the pit looks full but it has NOTHING of value in it...just a bunch of zeros.

Let's circle four groups of -2 tiles for removal.

This is what the pit looks like after we remove the groups of negative twos.

There are still a few zeros left, but remember they mean nothing.

We can remove the zeros to better see the actual answer.

Removing four groups of negative two tiles, leaves us with 8 positive tiles.

So -4 x -2 = 8

Print out your own tiles, and try a few of these on your own.

You can check the correctness of your results on a calculator.

Have fun "TOUCHING" your integers!