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.

\displaystyle 7+\left | 5-9 \right |

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle -11

\displaystyle -3

\displaystyle 3

\displaystyle 11

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 11

Explanation:

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

\displaystyle 7+\left | -4 \right |=7+4=11

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

Solve the expression below.

\displaystyle 6-3\left | 4- 6 \right |_.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle -4

\displaystyle 0

\displaystyle 12

\displaystyle 4

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 0

Explanation:

\displaystyle 6-3\left | 4-6 \right |=6-3\left | -2 \right |

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

\displaystyle 6-3\left | -2 \right |=6-3(2)=6-6=0

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

Solve the absolute value expression.

\displaystyle \small \small 6\left | 3-8 \right |+14

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 80

\displaystyle -16

\displaystyle -52

\displaystyle 44

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 44

Explanation:

\displaystyle \small \small 6\left | 3-8 \right |+14

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

\displaystyle \small \small 6\left | -5 \right |+14

The absolute value of \displaystyle -5 is \displaystyle 5. Remember that absolute values are always positive.

\displaystyle \small (6)(5)+14

\displaystyle \small 30+14=44

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

Is the inequality below true or false?

\displaystyle \small \small \left | -7 \right |>12-6

 

 

Possible Answers:

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

True

False; the two terms are equal

The answer cannot be determined

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

An absolute value is always the positive solution.

\displaystyle \small \left | -7 \right |=7

We can compare the terms by substituting the positive value of \displaystyle 7, and solving the right side of the inequality.

\displaystyle \small \small \small \left | -7 \right |>12-6

\displaystyle \small \left | -7 \right |>6

\displaystyle \small 7>6

The inequality is a true expression.

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

Evaluate  \displaystyle \left | -6+5-2 \right |

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle -5

\displaystyle -3

\displaystyle 1

\displaystyle 3

\displaystyle 13

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 3

Explanation:

To solve problems with absolute value, first solve inside the absolute value signs. \displaystyle -6+5-2 = -3 .

The absolute value of \displaystyle -3 is \displaystyle 3 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 #1 : How To Do Absolute Value In Pre Algebra

Evaluate the expression.

\displaystyle \left | 3-5\right |

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 2

\displaystyle -15

\displaystyle -2

\displaystyle 8

\displaystyle 15

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 2

Explanation:

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

\displaystyle \left | 3-5\right |

\displaystyle \left | -2\right |

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.

\displaystyle \left | -2\right |=2

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

\displaystyle \left |-3 \right |=?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 3

\displaystyle 1

\displaystyle 6

\displaystyle -6

\displaystyle -3

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 3

Explanation:

The absolute value of a number can be thought of as its distance from zero. \displaystyle -3 is three units away from zero. Therefore, \displaystyle \left |-3 \right |=3.

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

\displaystyle \left | 3^2-12\right |=?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle -3

\displaystyle -4

\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}

\displaystyle 3

\displaystyle 4

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 3

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.

\displaystyle \left | 3^2-12\right |

\displaystyle =\left | 9-12\right |

\displaystyle =\left | -3\right |

\displaystyle -3 is three units away from zero. Therefore, \displaystyle \left | 3^2-12\right |=\left |-3 \right |=3.

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

\displaystyle \left | -5+3\right |=?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 2

\displaystyle 8

\displaystyle -2

\displaystyle -8

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 2

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.

\displaystyle \left | -5+3\right |

\displaystyle =\left | -2\right |

\displaystyle -2 is two units away from zero. Therefore \displaystyle \left | -5+3\right |=\left | -2\right |=2.

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

\displaystyle \left | 12+24\right |=?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 2

\displaystyle -36

\displaystyle 36

\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}

\displaystyle -2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 36

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.

\displaystyle \left | 12+24\right |

\displaystyle =\left | 36\right |

\displaystyle 36 is \displaystyle 36 units away from zero. That means that \displaystyle \left | 12+24\right |=\left | 36\right |=36.

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