1. **State the problem:** Solve the expression $$3 \times (-8) \times (-4)$$. 2. **Recall the multiplication rules for negative numbers:** - Multiplying two negative numbers results in a positive number. - Multiplying a positive number by a negative number results in a negative number. 3. **Calculate step-by-step:** First, multiply $$3 \times (-8)$$: $$3 \times (-8) = -24$$ 4. Now multiply the result by $$-4$$: $$-24 \times (-4) = 96$$ 5. **Final answer:** $$3 \times (-8) \times (-4) = 96$$ This is because multiplying two negatives gives a positive, so the final product is positive 96.