High School Math : How to do absolute value in pre-algebra

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Do Absolute Value In Pre Algebra

Solve the expression below.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For an absolute value, the term inside the bars will always become positive.

Example Question #2 : How To Do Absolute Value In Pre Algebra

Solve the expression below.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For an absolute value, the term inside the bars will always become positive.

Example Question #3 : How To Do Absolute Value In Pre Algebra

Solve the absolute value expression.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Simplify the absolute value, as if it were a parenthesis.

The absolute value of is . Remember that absolute values are always positive.

Example Question #4 : How To Do Absolute Value In Pre Algebra

Is the inequality below true or false?

 

 

Possible Answers:

False; the two terms are equal

False; the sign should be changed to "less than"

The answer cannot be determined

True

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

An absolute value is always the positive solution.

We can compare the terms by substituting the positive value of , and solving the right side of the inequality.

The inequality is a true expression.

Example Question #5 : How To Do Absolute Value In Pre Algebra

Evaluate 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve problems with absolute value, first solve inside the absolute value signs.  .

The absolute value of  is  because the negative sign is inside the absolute value signs. Remember the absolute value is the distance from that number to zero on the number line. Therefore, the absolute value is always positive. 

Example Question #6 : How To Do Absolute Value In Pre Algebra

Evaluate the expression.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, treat the absolute value as a parenthesis, and evaluate the term inside.

The absolute value of any term is its distance from zero. A distance cannot be negative, thus, any negative term in an absolute value will be converted to a positive term.

Example Question #7 : How To Do Absolute Value In Pre Algebra

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The absolute value of a number can be thought of as its distance from zero.  is three units away from zero. Therefore, .

Example Question #8 : How To Do Absolute Value In Pre Algebra

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The absolute value of a number can be thought of as its distance from zero.

We start by solving the expression inside the absolute value signs and then measure how far that is from zero.

 is three units away from zero. Therefore, 

Example Question #9 : How To Do Absolute Value In Pre Algebra

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The absolute value of a number can be thought of as its distance from zero.

We start by solving the expression inside the absolute value signs and then measure how far that is from zero.

 is two units away from zero. Therefore 

Example Question #10 : How To Do Absolute Value In Pre Algebra

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The absolute value of a number can be thought of as its distance from zero.

We start by solving the expression inside the absolute value signs and then measure how far that is from zero.

 is  units away from zero. That means that

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