Main content
Course: MAP Recommended Practice > Unit 35
Lesson 13: Absolute value- Absolute value examples
- Intro to absolute value
- Finding absolute values
- Comparing absolute values
- Compare and order absolute values
- Placing absolute values on the number line
- Comparing absolute values on the number line
- Testing solutions to absolute value inequalities
- Comparing absolute values challenge
- Interpreting absolute value
- Interpreting absolute value
- Absolute value review
© 2024 Khan AcademyTerms of usePrivacy PolicyCookie Notice
Intro 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?(40 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!(112 votes)
- What is absolute value in real-life scenarios?(16 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.(77 votes)
- how is a<|a| shouldn't a=|a| as they are the same distance from 0?(15 votes)
- a was a negative number while absolute a was a positive number therefore a is less than positive a(23 votes)
- Why cant there be negatives for absolute value?(11 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!(32 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(23 votes) - If they ask for the absoulte value of 8, is the answer going to be positive 8?(12 votes)
- Yes, because an absolute value can never be a negative number, it can only be positive.(11 votes)
- Can fractions have an absolute value?(14 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!(17 votes)
- this doesn't totally make sense to me.(13 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!(18 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)(20 votes)- very helpful in and interesting way. i like it(2 votes)
- Would -(-9+3) it be absolute -12(13 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.(10 votes)