Author Miloš Kocić

Absolute value of a number

For every two real numbers 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 there are two possibilities for their order depending on
their value. First one is when one of them is greater than the other: 𝑎 > 𝑏 𝑜𝑟 𝑏 > 𝑎. Second
one is when values of this numbers are equal 𝑎 = 𝑏. Greater number between two of them is
denoted as 𝑚𝑎𝑥{𝑎, 𝑏}. So if 𝑥 ≤ 𝑦 than 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥{𝑥, 𝑦}.

Definition 1. Number 𝑚𝑎𝑥{𝑥, −𝑥} we call absolute value of number 𝑥 and we denote this as
|𝑥|.

According to definition 1. |𝑥| is a non negative number. For example 𝑚𝑎𝑥{3, −3} = 3 so we
conclude that |−3| = 3.

We will now formulate some properties:

Theorem 1. For every 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 it stands:

𝑥 , 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 0
a)|𝑥| = { b) |−𝑥| = |𝑥| c) 𝑥 ≤ |𝑥|.
−𝑥, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 0

Theorem 2. For every 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑅 it stands:

a) |𝑥 + 𝑦| ≤ |𝑥| + |𝑦| b) ||𝑥| − |𝑦|| ≤ |𝑥 − 𝑦| ≤ |𝑥| + |𝑦|.

Set of solutions for the inequality |𝑥| ≤ 𝑎 where 𝑎 is positive number is 𝑆 = {𝑥| − 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑎}.

Example 1. Prove that

1) 𝑎 + 𝑏 + |𝑏 − 𝑎| = 2𝑚𝑎𝑥{𝑎, 𝑏} 2) 𝑎 + 𝑏 − |𝑏 − 𝑎| = 2𝑚𝑖𝑛{𝑎, 𝑏}

Solution: 1) Let it be 𝑏 − 𝑎 ≥ 0. Than |𝑏 − 𝑎| = 𝑏 − 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑥{𝑎, 𝑏} = 𝑏. So the left side of

given equation is equal to right side. If 𝑏 − 𝑎 < 0 than |𝑏 − 𝑎| = −(𝑏 − 𝑎) = −𝑏 + 𝑎 so left
side of the equation has value 2𝑎. Also the right side has the same value.

2) Let it be 𝑏 − 𝑎 ≥ 0. Than |𝑏 − 𝑎| = 𝑏 − 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑖𝑛{𝑎, 𝑏} = 𝑎. So the left side of given

equation is equal to right side. If 𝑏 − 𝑎 < 0 than |𝑏 − 𝑎| = −(𝑏 − 𝑎) = −𝑏 + 𝑎 so left side of
the equation has value 2𝑎. Also the right side has the same value.

Example 2. Solve the inequality |𝑥 − 3| ≥ 2.

Solution: This inequality has two inequalities in her 𝑥 − 3 ≥ 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 3 − 𝑥 ≥ 2. After solving we
get solutions. For first inequality solution is 𝑥 ≥ 5 and for the second 𝑥 ≤ 1. So solution for
starting inequality is 𝑥 ∈ (−∞, 1] ∪ [5, +∞).