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To show we want the absolute value we put "|" marks either side (called "bars"), like these
examples:
|−5| = 5 |7| = 7
The "|" can be found just above the enter key on most keyboards.
More Formal
More formally we have:
− ( −17 ) = +17
Useful Properties
Here are some properties of absolute values that can be useful:
• |a| ≥ 0 always!
That makes sense ... |a| can never be less than zero.
• |a| = √(a2)
Squaring a makes it positive or zero (for a as a Real Number). Then taking the square
root will "undo" the squaring, but leave it positive or zero.
• |a × b| = |a| × |b|
x+2 = −5 x+2 = +5
x = −7 x=3
Graphically
Let us graph that example:
|x+2| = 5
It is easier to graph when we have an "=0" equation, so subtract 5 from both sides:
|x+2| − 5 = 0
Here is the plot of y=|x+2|−5, but just for fun let's make the graph by shifting it around:
< ≤ > ≥
less than greater than
less than greater than
or equal to or equal to
−3 < x < 3
(−3, 3)
−3 ≤ x ≤ 3
[−3, 3]
Rewrite it as:
−12 ≤ 3x−6 ≤ 12
Add 6:
−6 ≤ 3x ≤ 18
Lastly, multiply by (1/3). Because we are multiplying by a positive number, the inequalities will
not change:
−2 ≤ x ≤ 6
Done!
[−2, 6]
Up to -3 or from 3 onwards
It can be rewritten as
x < −3 or x > 3
−3 > x > 3
"x" cannot be less than -3 and greater than 3 at the same time
It is really:
x < −3 or x > 3
Can be rewritten as
x ≤ −3 or x ≥ 3