SAT Math : How to find absolute value

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 : How To Find Absolute Value

For which of the following functions below does f(x) = |f(x)| for every value of x within its domain?

Possible Answers:

f(x) = x4 + x

f(x) = x2 – 2x 

f(x) = 2x + 3

f(x) = x4 + (1 – x)2

f(x) = x2 – 9

Correct answer:

f(x) = x4 + (1 – x)2

Explanation:

When we take the absolute value of a function, any negative values get changed into positive values. Essentially, |f(x)| will take all of the negative values of f(x) and reflect them across the x-axis. However, any values of f(x) that are positive or equal to zero will not be changed, because the absolute value of a positive number (or zero) is still the same number.

If we can show that f(x) has negative values, then |f(x)| will be different from f(x) at some points, because its negative values will be changed to positive values. In other words, our answer will consist of the function that never has negative values. 

Let's look at f(x) = 2x + 3. Obviously, this equation of a line will have negative values. For example, where x = –4, f(–4) = 2(–4) + 3 = –5, which is negative. Thus, f(x) has negative values, and if we were to graph |f(x)|, the result would be different from f(x). Therefore, f(x) = 2x + 3 isn't the correct answer.

Next, let's look at f(x) = x2 – 9. If we let x = 1, then f(1) = 1 – 9 = –8, which is negative. Thus |f(x)| will not be the same as f(x), and we can eliminate this choice as well.

Now, let's examine f(x) = x2 – 2x. We know that x2 by itself can never be negative. However, if x2 is really small, then adding –2x could make it negative. Therefore, let's evaluate f(x) when x is a fractional value such as 1/2. f(1/2) = 1/4 – 1 = –3/4, which is negative. Thus, there are some values on f(x) that are negative, so we can eliminate this function.

Next, let's examine f(x) = x4 + x. In general, any number taken to an even-numbered power must always be non-negative. Therefore, x4 cannot be negative, because if we multiplied a negative number by itself four times, the result would be positive. However, the x term could be negative. If we let x be a small negative fraction, then x4 would be close to zero, and we would be left with x, which is negative. For example, let's find f(x) when x = –1/2. f(–1/2) = (–1/2)+ (–1/2) = (1/16) – (1/2) = –7/16, which is negative. Thus, |f(x)| is not always the same as f(x). 

By process of elimination, the answer is f(x) = x4 + (1 – x)2 . This makes sense because x4 can't be negative, and because (1 – x)can't be negative. No matter what we subtract from one, when we square the final result, we can't get a negative number. And if we add x4 and (1 – x)2, the result will also be non-negative, because adding two non-negative numbers always produces a non-negative result. Therefore, f(x) = x4 + (1 – x)will not have any negative values, and |f(x)| will be the same as f(x) for all values of x

The answer is f(x) = x4 + (1 – x)2 .

Example Question #2 : How To Find Absolute Value

Let  and  both be negative numbers such that and . What is ?

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We need to solve the two equations |2a – 3| = 5 and |3 – 4b| = 11, in order to determine the possible values of a and b. When solving equations involving absolute values, we must remember to consider both the positive and negative cases. For example, if |x| = 4, then x can be either 4 or –4.

Let's look at |2a – 3| = 5. The two equations we need to solve are 2a – 3 = 5 and 2a – 3 = –5.

2a – 3 = 5 or 2a – 3 = –5

Add 3 to both sides.

2a = 8 or 2a = –2

Divide by 2.

a = 4 or a = –1

Therefore, the two possible values for a are 4 and –1. However, the problem states that both a and b are negative. Thus, a must equal –1.

Let's now find the values of b.

3 – 4b = 11 or 3 – 4b = –11

Subtract 3 from both sides.

–4b = 8 or –4b = –14

Divide by –4.

b = –2 or b = 7/2

Since b must also be negative, b must equal –2.

We have determined that a is –1 and b is –2. The original question asks us to find |b – a|.

|b – a| = |–2 – (–1)| = | –2 + 1 | = |–1| = 1.

The answer is 1.

Example Question #3 : How To Find Absolute Value

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #1 : How To Find Absolute Value

Find the absolute value of the following expression:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order the find the answer, you must first solve what is inside the absolute value signs.

Following order of operations, you must first multiply  which equals .

Then you must subtract  from  as shown below:

Now, you must take the absolute value of  which is positive , the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Absolute Value

Evaluate for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #1 : How To Find Absolute Value

Evaluate for  :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Substitute 0.6 for  :

Example Question #1 : How To Find Absolute Value

Evaluate for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Substitute .

Example Question #1 : How To Find Absolute Value

Which of the following sentences is represented by the equation 

Possible Answers:

The sum of three and the absolute value of the sum of a number is three less than the number.

The sum of three and the absolute value of the sum of a number is three greater than the number.

The absolute value of the sum of a number and seven is three greater than the number.

None of the other responses are correct.

The absolute value of the sum of a number and seven is three less than the number.

Correct answer:

The absolute value of the sum of a number and seven is three less than the number.

Explanation:

 is the absolute value of , which in turn is the sum of a number and  seven and a number. Therefore,  can be written as "the absolute value of the sum of a number and seven". Since it is equal to , it is three less than the number, so the equation that corresponds to the sentence is 

"The absolute value of the sum of a number and seven is three less than the number."

Example Question #1 : How To Find Absolute Value

Define 

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

None of the other responses is correct.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #31 : Algebra

Define an operation  as follows:

For all real numbers ,

Evaluate: .

Possible Answers:

The expression is undefined.

None of the other responses is correct.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

, or, equivalently,

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