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Exercises Numbers, fractions and percents

Example 3.7 from Prealgebra, 3.1 Introduction to Integers

Introduction to Integers: example 3.7

Evaluate:

ⓐ $| x | when x = −35$
ⓑ $| −y | when y = −20$
ⓒ $- | u | when u = 12$
ⓓ $- | p | when p = −14$

Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.

Solution

ⓐ To find $| x |$ when $x = −35 :$

$| x |$

Take the absolute value. $35$

ⓑ To find $| - y |$ when $y = −20 :$

$| - y |$

Simplify. $| 20 |$

Take the absolute value. $20$

ⓒ To find $- | u |$ when $u = 12 :$

$- | u |$

Take the absolute value. $−12$

ⓓ To find $- | p |$ when $p = −14 :$

$- | p |$

Take the absolute value. $−14$

Notice that the result is negative only when there is a negative sign outside the absolute value symbol.

Your turn

The book's Try It right after this example: same idea, new numbers. Only the answer is given.

Evaluate:

ⓐ $| x | when x = −17$
ⓑ $| −y | when y = −39$
ⓒ $- | m | when m = 22$
ⓓ $- | p | when p = −11$

How did it go?

PreviousIntroduction to Integers: example 3.6 Next Introduction to Integers: example 3.8

From Prealgebra (1st edition) by OpenStax (Rice University), section 3.1, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Original at openstax.org. We split the solution into steps; the words, numbers and figures are the book's. OpenStax doesn't endorse this site.