multtest:	addi $v0, $0, 0 #initial clearing of return value
multtester:	beq $a1, $0, multdone #break if necessary
	slt $t0, $a1, 0	#check to see if $a1 is negative
	addi $t1, $0, 1
	beq $t0, $t1, multneg	#go to negative handler
	add $v0, $v0, $a0	#increment $v0 by $a0
	addi $a1, $a1, -1	#decrement $a1 by 1
	j multtester	#jump back to the test
multneg:	sub $v0, $v0, $a0
	addi $a1, $a1, 1
	j multtester
multdone: jr $ra	#when done, go back to caller