Prealgebra for Two-Year Colleges/Appendix (procedures)/Absolute value
Absolute value
[edit | edit source]The absolute value of a number is found by applying a simple rule: If you see a negative sign in front of the number, change it to a plus sign. If you see a plus sign, leave it alone. So, for example, the absolute value of -17 is +17. The absolute value of +36 is +36.
Another way to understand the absolute value of a number is to think about the number line:
The absolute value of a number is the distance from zero to that number on the number line.
The absolute value of x is usually written as |x|. On calculators and computers it is sometimes written as abs (x).
Questions:
1. Calculate the absolute value of the following numbers:
- a. -5
- b. 9
- c. -3.8
- d. -139,462
- e. 5/8
2. What is the absolute value of zero? Explain.
3. Calculate the following:
- a. |27|
- b. |-1.9|
- c. |3 - 7|
- d. |3 - 0.5|
- e. abs (-6)
4. Draw a graph of abs(x) from -5 to +5. Can abs(x) ever be less than zero? How can you see that from your graph?
Answers:
1. a. 5 b. 9 c. 3.8 d. 139,462 e. 5/8
2. Zero, because zero is exactly zero away from zero on the number line.
3. a. 27 b. 1.9 c. |3-7| = |-4| = 4 d. |3-0.5| = |2.5| = 2.5 e. 6
