Evaluate the following
`-7 xx 8`

Answer

To evaluate the expression \(-7 \times 8\), we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the numbers
We have two numbers to multiply: \(-7\) and \(8\).

### Step 2: Understand the multiplication of a negative and a positive number
When you multiply a negative number by a positive number, the result is always negative.

### Step 3: Multiply the absolute values
Now, we will multiply the absolute values of the numbers:
\[ 7 \times 8 = 56 \]

### Step 4: Apply the negative sign
Since we are multiplying a negative number by a positive number, we apply the negative sign to the result:
\[ -7 \times 8 = -56 \]

### Final Answer
Thus, the final answer is:
\[ \boxed{-56} \]

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