How do you simplify #2 abs(3(-3) -5)#?

1 Answer
Wilson T
Jan 16, 2017

The answer is 28.

Explanation:

Following the order of operations, we simplify inside the absolute value signs first.

#|3(-3) - 5|#
The first step is to multiply the #3# and #-3#, which is #-9#.

#|-9 - 5|#
Next we subtract #5# from #-9#, which gives #-14#.

We are now left with #|-14|#. Absolute value can be thought of as the distance from 0 on the number line. We are 14 units away from 0, but since distance cannot be negative, #|-14|# becomes #14#.

We are left with 2 x 14, which is 28, our answer.

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