MATT101 / MATV111 / MATH111

Algebra Chapter 1
Absolute Value
Important Points
• Moodle Enrolment Key: 2024MATV111

• Once enrolled choose the group MATV111

• NO Tutorials this week

Absolute Value: Definition
Let be a real number. The absolute value of , denoted by ,
is defined to be

 x if x0

x   0 if x0
  x if x0

Equivalent Forms of the Definition
More commonly, the absolute value of is defined by

 x if x0
x 
  x if x0
Or, less commonly but equivalently, by

 x if x0
x 
  x if x0
Geometric Interpretation
• x - Distance between 0 and x

• x  y - Distance between x and y

Examples
Use the definition to rewrite without the absolute value bars:
• | 4 |

• | 5  2  5  2  32 |

• | 7 3|

• | x  6 | if x  4
Further examples
• x  y  1 if x y

• 1  cos x

• sin x  

• x  4 x if
2
x 