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Absolue
EXAMPLES & SOLUTIONS
Expressions: Absolute Value
Regardless of weather the initial number is negative or positive, the result will always be positive.
Absolute values are the true distance of any real number from zero on a number line.
The location of a value does not change the true number of units or the distance from zero.
Absolue values always measure distance not direction.
They measure continuous numbers (temperature), and discrete numbers (# of items).
A value of | -a | will return a positive value of a.
Absolute Rules
Explanation of units
Rule:
for any | x |
| x | = x, if x > 0
| -x | = x, if x < 0
1 unit
| -3 | = 3
1 unit
| 3 | = 3
3 units from zero
3 units from zero
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
2
3
4
5
6
7
Absolute Example
Visual example of rule
Example of Rule:
No matter the direction,
(30 or -30), the true distance is always 30 meters away from sea level
10 meters below sea levels
| 30 | = 30
10 meters below sea levels
| -30 | = 30
sea level = 0
above sea level
below sea
level
-10
-20
-30
30
20
10
Absolute Example
Number line example
3 - | -5 | = ?
| -5 | = 5
3 - 5 = -2
+ 3 units
- 5 units
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Another Example
Number line example
-3 + | 5 | = ?
| 5 | = 5
-3 + 5 = 2
+ 5 units
- 3 units
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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