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Understanding and using absolute value
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The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line.
Symbol:
Key point: Distance is always positive (or zero)!
Find:
The absolute value is the distance from zero.
is 12 units from zero.
Avoid these 3 frequent errors
See how this math is used in the real world
Solve .
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Numbers like 5 and -5 are opposites (same absolute value, different signs).
If and , then
Evaluate inside first, then take absolute value:
To compare and :
Answer:
Evaluate:
Step 1: Evaluate inside the absolute value bars
Step 2: Take absolute value
Answer:
Evaluate:
Step 1: Evaluate each absolute value
For :
Step 2: Subtract
Answer: