1.2.

1 Definition The absolute value or magnitude of a real number a is denoted by |a| and is defined by

Example |5|=5 Since 5>0 |-4/7|= -(-4/7) = 4/7 Since -4/7<0 |0|=0 Since 00

Remark |a| is a non-negative number for all values of a and -|a| a |a| If a itself is negative, then -a is positive and +a is negative!!!

Example Solve |x-3|=4 Solution x-3= 4 x= 7 -(x-3)= 4 x-3= -4 x= -1

Example Solve |3x-2|=|5x+4| 3x-2 = 5x+4 3x-5x = 4+2 -2x = 6 x = -3 3x-2 = -(5x+4) . . . x = -1/4

SQUARE ROOTS AND ABSOLUTE VALUETS b2 = a (3)2 = 9 so b = 3 but!!! (-3)2 = 9 so b = -3

The positive square root of the square of a number is equal to that number.

THEOREM 1.2.2 For any real number a a2 = |a| e.g. (-4)2 = 16 = 4 = |-4|

1.2.3 THEOREM If a and b are real numbers then, a. |-a| = |a| a number and its negative have the same absolute values. b. |ab| = |a||b| The absolute value of a product is the product of the absolute values. c. |a/b| = |a|/|b| The absolut value of a ratio is the ratio of the absolute values.

Proof From theorem 1.2.2 (a) |-a| = (-a)2 = a2 = |a| (b) |ab| = (ab)2 = a2b2 = a2b2 = |a||b|

Examples (a) |-4| = |4| (b) |2.-3| = |-6| = 6 = |2|.|3| = 6

(c) |5/4| = 5/4 = |5|/|4| = 5/4

The result (b) of above theorem can be extended to three or more factors. For n-many real numbers a1, a2, a3,...an (a) |a1 a2 ...an| = |a1| |a2| ...|an| (b) |an| = |a|n

Geometric interpretation of Absolute Value

Where A and B are points with coordinate a and b. The distance between A and B is

Theorem 1.2.4 (Distance formula) If A and B are points on a coordinate line with coordinates a and b respectively, then the distance d between A and B d = |b - a|

TABLE 1.2.2 (a) |x-a| < k (k>0)

Alternative Form -k < x-a < k Solution Set (a-k, a+k)

Example The inequality |x-3| < 4 rewritten as -4 < x-3 < 4 adding 3 throughout gives -1 < x < 7 solution set (-1,7) On real line

Example Solve |x+4| 2 x+4 -2 x -6 x+4 2 x -2

On combining these two sets (- , -6] [-2 , + ) On real line

THE TRIANGLE INEQUALITY It is not generally true that |a+b| = |a| + |b|

e.g. if a = 2 and b = -3, then a+b = -1 so that |a+b| = |-1| = 1 whereas |a|+|b| = |2|+|-3| = 2+3 = 5 so |a+b| = |a|+|b|

1.2.5 THEOREM - (Triangle Inequality) If a b then |a+b| |a|+|b| Proof Since for any real number a and b, we know that -|a| a |a| and -|b| b |b| -|a| a |a| + -|b| b |b| ______________ = -|a| + -|b| a+b |a|+|b| ______________________________________________ Now we have two cases: Case 1 where a+b 0 certainly a+b=|a+b| Hence |a+b| |a|+|b| And Case 2 where a+b < 0 |a+b| = -(a+b) or (a+b) = -|a+b| Comparing with the intial inequality -(|a|+|b|)