Absolute value - Math Central

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Question from Cara, a student:

Give the absolute value of this equation.
{-3 + 1} - {5 - 7}
note: the brackets are the absolute value lines.

Hi Cara,

I'll illustrate with a slightly different problem.

Evaluate |3 - 8| - |5 + 2| + |2 - 7|

You need to look at each absolute value in the question and evaluate them separately.

|3 - 8| = |-5| = 5
|5 + 2| = |7| = 7
|2 - 7| = |-5| = 5

Now put them together

|3 - 8| - |5 + 2| + |2 - 7| = 5 + 7 + 5 = 17

I hope this helps,
Penny

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