i dont understand absoulot valu equation

Question

plz can you help

Answer 1

Hi Jad from New York, NY...have a great day at school.

Thanks for connecting with Wyzant...I am here to help.

 

Okay...let's make sure you understand the concept of 'absolute value'.

Absolute value of a number, designated with this symbol:  l x l

 

What the absolute value of a number inside the lines means is whatever the value which is inside the lines is the distance in whole numbers from zero on a number line.

Let me put it very simply: on a number line, any absolute value of a number is counting from zero, either to the left or the right, how far we move to that number. Here is an example.

    if we see these two expressions:  l 3 l   or   l -3 l 

    Now draw a number line...label it like you normally would...

                                                                        

                        -3    -2    -1     0     1     2    3    

  Now count from zero to -3 to the left and count to 3 on the right.

   Each time you count to either -3 or 3 you still count 3 times. 

 

When an equation includes an absolute value, the equation is asking you to solve the equation so that the value of of  l x l either  x  or -x  solve the equation or make the statement true.

 

Here is a very simple example:     l -3 l +  0  =  3 

I showed you previously showed you using the number line how counting from -3  or  3   was simply 3.   

                      So the absolute value of -3 plus zero equals 3

I hope this helps you. Connect with me on Wyzant if you need further help

Answer 2

Absolute value is asking the question, "how far away from zero is this number."

l4l: How far from zero is positive 4?  It is 4 units away.

l-4l: How far from zero is negative 4? It is 4 units away.

So, absolute value is always a positive number.