How do you evaluate #abs(-10)#?

3 Answers
Jim G.
Dec 29, 2016

#10#

Explanation:

The #color(blue)"absolute value"# is always #color(red)"positive".#

This is because it is a measure of how far a value is from zero.

#"That is " |-4|=|4|=4# since both - 4 and 4 are 4 units from zero.

#rArr|-10|=10#

MystaryPi · EZ as pi
Dec 29, 2016

#10#

Explanation:

So absolute value means a number's distance from 0.
#-10# is #10# units from #0#, so the answer is #10#.

An easier way to do this is to just get rid of the negative sign.

Here are some examples:

#|31| = 31# (because 31's distance from 0 is 31)

#|-31| = 31# (because -31's distance from 0 is 31)

You can do some practice by using random number generators and finding their absolute values.

Tony B
Dec 30, 2016

+10

Explanation:

The format of #|-10|# is a way of mathematically stating the 'size' of a count. It does not matter if the number inside the | | is positive or negative. The size of the count is the same.

Example #" "|-5|=|+5| = 5#

A name for the 'count size' is Cardinality but at this level you will NOT be using this name.

The name for the #color(red)(|" some number" |)# is absolute value which you will be using.

#color(brown)(|-10| =|+10|=10#

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