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Calculus/Absolute values problems

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Expert: - 2/5/2009


Question
hi

i am having sooo much trouble with these absolute value problems.
we started them about a week ago.
i was wondering if you could help me answer this question and show exactly how you did it please.
also if you know any tricks to be able to understand absolute values i would really love to hear them.

thanks  

Answer
Absolute values are this:
There are only three choices for numbers: +, -, or 0.

+: If the number is positve, you're done.  
The absolute value of any positive value is that value itself.

-: If the number is negative, take away the negative sign.
The absolute value of a negative is that same number
without the negative sign.
It can also be thought of as multiplying by -1.
However its done, it's positive.

0: If the number is zero, the absolute value is 0.

Here are some examples to be looked at (| | is absolute value):
|1| = 1

|-2| = 2

|345| = 345

|34,526| = 34,526

|-1,546| = 1,546

|3.254| = 3.254

|-21.3} = 21.3

|√64| = 8.  Note that √64 = ±8, but here, the value is +8.

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