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6th grade
Course: 6th grade > Unit 5
Lesson 6: Intro to absolute valueIntro to absolute value
Learn how to think about absolute value as distance from zero, and practice finding absolute values.
The absolute value of a number is its distance from .
For example, the absolute value of is :
This seems kind of obvious. Of course the distance from to is . Where absolute value gets interesting is with negative numbers.
For example, the absolute value of is also :
Let's practice!
The absolute value symbol
The symbol for absolute value is a bar on each side of the number.
For example, instead of writing
"the absolute value of "
we can just write
Let's practice!
Want to join the conversation?
- wouldn't the question -(-7+4)it is absolute, be-11?(29 votes)
- Not quite -
Here's the expression: -|-7 + 4|
First, start by working out the expression inside the absolute value bars:
-|-7 + 4|
-|-3|
Then, take the absolute value of the number inside the bars:
-|-3|
-(3)
-3
So your answer is -3
-|-7 + 4| = -3
Hope this helps!(89 votes)
- What is absolute value in real-life scenarios?(10 votes)
- Absolute values are used when we work with distances. Distances are positive values.
For example: A diver is -15 deep (this places him 15 feet below the surface of the water). How far does he need to travel to get to the surface? He needs to travel |-15| = 15 feet.
Hope this helps.(59 votes)
- how is a<|a| shouldn't a=|a| as they are the same distance from 0?(12 votes)
- a was a negative number while absolute a was a positive number therefore a is less than positive a(13 votes)
- Why cant there be negatives for absolute value?(7 votes)
- There are no negatives for absolute value since absolute value is a measure of distance on a number line. (Distance doesn't have negative values only positive
Hopes this helps!(23 votes)
- How last question is solved is explained below:
In place of "a" let's assume number "3", as "a" is placed towards left of "0" it's considered as "-3" (if "a" was placed towards right of "0" we would consider as "+3").
Therefore ==> a = -3
Note Points:
->Negative numbers are always lesser than 0 and positive numbers.
->Positive numbers are always greater than 0 and negative numbers.
-> Absolute of Negative number or Positive number or "0" always results in Positive number.
Now as per the questions asked, lets implement value of "a" that is "-3" and check True or False
Q1.) a < 0 ===> -3 < 0 ===> True
Q2.) |a| > 0 ===> |-3| > 0 ===> 3 > 0 ===> True
Q3.) a < |a| ===> -3 < |-3| ===> -3 < 3 ===> True(15 votes) - So this i basicly a washing machine whatever you put in it it becomes celan like lets say 3 is clean and u put it in to the
washing machine (Absloute) and i becomes 3 clean.But if u put -3 whic is dirty it becomes clean when you put it in the machine (Absloute)(16 votes) - this doesn't totally make sense to me.(11 votes)
- So absolute value is the distance a number has from 0. It can never be negative. So lets say that an editor needs to go back -3 pages. The absolute value would be 3. He/she would need to go back 3 pages since there are no negative pages. Hope this helps!(9 votes)
- Can fractions have an absolute value?(8 votes)
- Yes! Think about it is 3/4 of a cm a measurement?
Yes! So, fractions can also have an absolute value.
Hope this helps!(13 votes)
- Would -(-9+3) it be absolute -12(10 votes)
- No. See Jade's question from 2 years ago as it's similar to your question; and Polina's reply/explanation to help you.(8 votes)
- If they ask for the absoulte value of 8, is the answer going to be positive 8?(5 votes)
- Yes, because an absolute value can never be a negative number, it can only be positive.(1 vote)