Skip to content Skip to navigation

Connexions

You are here: Home » Content » Signed Numbers: Absolute Value

Navigation

Lenses

What is a lens?

Definition of a lens

Lenses

A lens is a custom view of the content in the repository. You can think of it as a fancy kind of list that will let you see content through the eyes of organizations and people you trust.

What is in a lens?

Lens makers point to materials (modules and collections), creating a guide that includes their own comments and descriptive tags about the content.

Who can create a lens?

Any individual member, a community, or a respected organization.

What are tags? tag icon

Tags are descriptors added by lens makers to help label content, attaching a vocabulary that is meaningful in the context of the lens.

This content is ...

Endorsed by Endorsed (What does "Endorsed by" mean?)

This content has been endorsed by the organizations listed. Click each link for a list of all content endorsed by the organization.
  • CCQ display tagshide tags

    This module is included in aLens by: Community College of QatarAs a part of collection: "Fundamentals of Mathematics"

    Comments:

    "Used as supplemental materials for developmental math courses."

    Click the "CCQ" link to see all content they endorse.

    Click the tag icon tag icon to display tags associated with this content.

  • College Open Textbooks display tagshide tags

    This module is included inLens: Community College Open Textbook Collaborative
    By: CC Open Textbook CollaborativeAs a part of collection: "Fundamentals of Mathematics"

    Comments:

    "Reviewer's Comments: 'I would recommend this text for a basic math course for students moving on to elementary algebra. The information in most chapters is useful, very clear, and easily […]"

    Click the "College Open Textbooks" link to see all content they endorse.

    Click the tag icon tag icon to display tags associated with this content.

Affiliated with (What does "Affiliated with" mean?)

This content is either by members of the organizations listed or about topics related to the organizations listed. Click each link to see a list of all content affiliated with the organization.
  • Featured Content display tagshide tags

    This module is included inLens: Connexions Featured Content
    By: ConnexionsAs a part of collection: "Fundamentals of Mathematics"

    Comments:

    "Fundamentals of Mathematics is a work text that covers the traditional topics studied in a modern prealgebra course, as well as topics of estimation, elementary analytic geometry, and […]"

    Click the "Featured Content" link to see all content affiliated with them.

    Click the tag icon tag icon to display tags associated with this content.

Also in these lenses

  • UniqU content

    This module is included inLens: UniqU's lens
    By: UniqU, LLCAs a part of collection: "Fundamentals of Mathematics"

    Click the "UniqU content" link to see all content selected in this lens.

Recently Viewed

This feature requires Javascript to be enabled.

Tags

(What is a tag?)

These tags come from the endorsement, affiliation, and other lenses that include this content.
 

Signed Numbers: Absolute Value

Module by: Wade Ellis, Denny Burzynski. E-mail the authorsEdited By: Math Editors

Summary: This module is from Fundamentals of Mathematics by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. This module discusses absolute value. By the end of the module students should understand the geometric and algebraic definitions of absolute value.

Section Overview

  • Geometric Definition of Absolute Value
  • Algebraic Definition of Absolute Value

Geometric Definition of Absolute Value

Absolute Value-Geometric Approach

Geometric definition of absolute value:
The absolute value of a number aa size 12{a} {}, denoted ∣a∣∣a∣ size 12{ \lline a \rline } {}, is the distance from a to 0 on the number line.

Absolute value answers the question of "how far," and not "which way." The phrase "how far" implies "length" and length is always a nonnegative quantity. Thus, the absolute value of a number is a nonnegative number.

Sample Set A

Determine each value.

Example 1

∣4∣=4∣4∣=4 size 12{ lline 4 rline =4} {}

A number line with hash marks from 0 to 6, with zero to 4 marked as 4 units in length.

Example 2

∣−4∣=4∣−4∣=4 size 12{ lline - 4 rline =4} {}

A number line with hash marks from -6 to 0, with -4 to 0 marked as 4 units in length.

Example 3

∣0∣=0∣0∣=0 size 12{ lline 0 rline =0} {}

Example 4

−∣5∣=−5−∣5∣=−5 size 12{ - lline 5 rline = - 5} {}. The quantity on the left side of the equal sign is read as "negative the absolute value of 5." The absolute value of 5 is 5. Hence, negative the absolute value of 5 is -5.

Example 5

−∣−3∣=−3−∣−3∣=−3 size 12{ - lline - 3 rline = - 3} {}. The quantity on the left side of the equal sign is read as "negative the absolute value of -3." The absolute value of -3 is 3. Hence, negative the absolute value of -3 is - ( 3 ) = - 3 -(3)=-3.

Practice Set A

By reasoning geometrically, determine each absolute value.

Exercise 1

∣7∣∣7∣ size 12{ lline 7 rline } {}

Solution

7

Exercise 2

∣−3∣∣−3∣ size 12{ lline - 3 rline } {}

Solution

3

Exercise 3

∣12∣∣12∣ size 12{ lline "12" rline } {}

Solution

12

Exercise 4

∣0∣∣0∣ size 12{ lline 0 rline } {}

Solution

0

Exercise 5

−∣9∣−∣9∣ size 12{ - lline 9 rline } {}

Solution

-9

Exercise 6

−∣−6∣−∣−6∣ size 12{ - lline - 6 rline } {}

Solution

-6

Algebraic Definition of Absolute Value

From the problems in Section 3, we can suggest the following algebraic defini­tion of absolute value. Note that the definition has two parts.

Absolute Value—Algebraic Approach

Algebraic definition of absolute value
The absolute value of a number a is
| a | = a, if  a ≥ 0 -a, if < 0 |a|= a, if  a ≥ 0 -a, if < 0

The algebraic definition takes into account the fact that the number aa size 12{a} {} could be either positive or zero a≥0a≥0 size 12{ left (a >= 0 right )} {} or negative a<0a<0 size 12{ left (a<0 right )} {}.

  1. If the number aa size 12{a} {} is positive or zero a≥0a≥0 size 12{ left (a >= 0 right )} {}, the upper part of the definition applies. The upper part of the definition tells us that if the number enclosed in the absolute value bars is a nonnegative number, the absolute value of the number is the number itself.
  2. The lower part of the definition tells us that if the number enclosed within the absolute value bars is a negative number, the absolute value of the number is the opposite of the number. The opposite of a negative number is a positive number.

Note:

The definition says that the vertical absolute value lines may be elimi­nated only if we know whether the number inside is positive or negative.

Sample Set B

Use the algebraic definition of absolute value to find the following values.

Example 6

∣8∣∣8∣ size 12{ lline 8 rline } {}. The number enclosed within the absolute value bars is a nonnegative number, so the upper part of the definition applies. This part says that the absolute value of 8 is 8 itself.

∣ 8 ∣ = 8 ∣ 8 ∣ = 8 size 12{ lline 8 rline =8} {}

Example 7

∣−3∣∣−3∣ size 12{ lline - 3 rline } {}. The number enclosed within absolute value bars is a negative number, so the lower part of the definition applies. This part says that the absolute value of -3 is the opposite of -3, which is −−3−−3 size 12{ - left ( - 3 right )} {}. By the definition of absolute value and the double-negative property,

∣ − 3 ∣ = − − 3 = 3 ∣ − 3 ∣ = − − 3 = 3 size 12{ lline - 3 rline = - left ( - 3 right )=3} {}

Practice Set B

Use the algebraic definition of absolute value to find the following values.

Exercise 7

∣7∣∣7∣ size 12{ lline 7 rline } {}

Solution

7

Exercise 8

∣9∣∣9∣ size 12{ lline 9 rline } {}

Solution

9

Exercise 9

∣−12∣∣−12∣ size 12{ lline - "12" rline } {}

Solution

12

Exercise 10

∣−5∣∣−5∣ size 12{ lline - 5 rline } {}

Solution

5

Exercise 11

−∣8∣−∣8∣ size 12{ - lline 8 rline } {}

Solution

-8

Exercise 12

−∣1∣−∣1∣ size 12{ - lline 1 rline } {}

Solution

-1

Exercise 13

−∣−52∣−∣−52∣ size 12{ - lline - "52" rline } {}

Solution

-52

Exercise 14

−∣−31∣−∣−31∣ size 12{ - lline - 31 rline } {}

Solution

-31

Exercises

Determine each of the values.

Exercise 15

∣5∣∣5∣ size 12{ lline 5 rline } {}

Solution

5

Exercise 16

∣3∣∣3∣ size 12{ lline 3 rline } {}

Exercise 17

∣6∣∣6∣ size 12{ lline 6 rline } {}

Solution

6

Exercise 18

∣−9∣∣−9∣ size 12{ lline -9 rline } {}

Exercise 19

∣−1∣∣−1∣ size 12{ lline -1 rline } {}

Solution

1

Exercise 20

∣−4∣∣−4∣ size 12{ lline -4 rline } {}

Exercise 21

−∣3∣−∣3∣ size 12{- lline 3 rline } {}

Solution

-3

Exercise 22

−∣7∣−∣7∣ size 12{- lline 7 rline } {}

Exercise 23

−∣- 14∣−∣- 14∣ size 12{- lline –14 rline } {}

Solution

-14

Exercise 24

∣0∣∣0∣ size 12{ lline 0 rline } {}

Exercise 25

∣−26∣∣−26∣ size 12{ lline -"26" rline } {}

Solution

26

Exercise 26

−∣−26∣−∣−26∣ size 12{- lline -"26" rline } {}

Exercise 27

−−∣4∣−−∣4∣ size 12{- left (- lline 4 rline right )} {}

Solution

4

Exercise 28

−−∣2∣−−∣2∣ size 12{- left (- lline 2 rline right )} {}

Exercise 29

−−∣−6∣−−∣−6∣ size 12{- left (- lline -6 rline right )} {}

Solution

6

Exercise 30

−−∣−42∣−−∣−42∣ size 12{- left (- lline -"42" rline right )} {}

Exercise 31

∣5∣−∣−2∣∣5∣−∣−2∣ size 12{ lline 5 rline - lline -2 rline } {}

Solution

3

Exercise 32

∣−2∣3∣−2∣3 size 12{ lline -2 rline rSup { size 8{3} } } {}

Exercise 33

∣−2⋅3∣∣−2⋅3∣ size 12{ lline - left (2 cdot 3 right ) rline } {}

Solution

6

Exercise 34

∣−2∣−∣−9∣∣−2∣−∣−9∣ size 12{ lline -2 rline - lline -9 rline } {}

Exercise 35

∣−6∣+∣4∣2∣−6∣+∣4∣2 size 12{ left ( lline -6 rline + lline 4 rline right ) rSup { size 8{2} } } {}

Solution

100

Exercise 36

∣−1∣−∣1∣3∣−1∣−∣1∣3 size 12{ left ( lline -1 rline - lline 1 rline right ) rSup { size 8{3} } } {}

Exercise 37

∣4∣+∣−6∣2−∣−2∣3∣4∣+∣−6∣2−∣−2∣3 size 12{ left ( lline 4 rline + lline -6 rline right ) rSup { size 8{2} } - left ( lline -2 rline right ) rSup { size 8{3} } } {}

Solution

92

Exercise 38

- - 10 - 6 2 - - 10 - 6 2

Exercise 39

−{−−∣−4∣+∣−3∣3}2−{−−∣−4∣+∣−3∣3}2 size 12{- left lbrace left none - left [- lline -4 rline + lline -3 rline right ] rSup { size 8{3} } right rbrace right none rSup { size 8{2} } } {}

Solution

-1

Exercise 40

A Mission Control Officer at Cape Canaveral makes the statement “lift-off, T minus 50 seconds.” How long is it before lift-off?

Exercise 41

Due to a slowdown in the industry, a Silicon Valley computer company finds itself in debt $2,400,000. Use absolute value notation to describe this company’s debt.

Solution

−$∣−2,400,000∣−$∣−2,400,000∣ size 12{-$ lline -2,"400","000" rline } {}

Exercise 42

A particular machine is set correctly if upon action its meter reads 0. One particular machine has a meter reading of - 1.6 -1.6 upon action. How far is this machine off its correct setting?

Exercises for Review

Exercise 43

((Reference)) Find the sum: 970+521+815970+521+815 size 12{ { {9} over {"70"} } + { {5} over {"21"} } + { {8} over {"15"} } } {}.

Solution

910910 size 12{ { {9} over {"10"} } } {}

Exercise 44

((Reference)) Find the value of 310+4121920310+4121920 size 12{ { { { {3} over {"10"} } + { {4} over {"12"} } } over { { {"19"} over {"20"} } } } } {}.

Exercise 45

((Reference)) Convert 3.2353.235 size 12{3 "." 2 { {3} over {5} } } {} to a fraction.

Solution

31350 or 1635031350 or 16350 size 12{3 { {"13"} over {"50"} } " or " { {"163"} over {"50"} } } {}

Exercise 46

((Reference)) The ratio of acid to water in a solution is 3838 size 12{ { {3} over {8} } } {}. How many mL of acid are there in a solution that contain 112 mL of water?

Exercise 47

((Reference)) Find the value of −6−(−8)−6−(−8) size 12{-6- \( -8 \) } {}.

Solution

2

Content actions

Download module as:

PDF | EPUB (?)

What is an EPUB file?

EPUB is an electronic book format that can be read on a variety of mobile devices.

Downloading to a reading device

For detailed instructions on how to download this content's EPUB to your specific device, click the "(?)" link.

| More downloads ...

Add module to:

My Favorites (?)

'My Favorites' is a special kind of lens which you can use to bookmark modules and collections. 'My Favorites' can only be seen by you, and collections saved in 'My Favorites' can remember the last module you were on. You need an account to use 'My Favorites'.

| A lens I own (?)

Definition of a lens

Lenses

A lens is a custom view of the content in the repository. You can think of it as a fancy kind of list that will let you see content through the eyes of organizations and people you trust.

What is in a lens?

Lens makers point to materials (modules and collections), creating a guide that includes their own comments and descriptive tags about the content.

Who can create a lens?

Any individual member, a community, or a respected organization.

What are tags? tag icon

Tags are descriptors added by lens makers to help label content, attaching a vocabulary that is meaningful in the context of the lens.

| External bookmarks