Question

How do you simplify `-|-33|`?

Answer 1

Keep in mind that the absolute value brackets only affect the value inside of them - it has no effect on what happens outside of them.

Explanation:

The value within an absolute value bracket is forced to be positive.

Start with `-|-33|`

The value inside the absolute value brackets is `-33` but the action of the absolute value is to make the value positive:

`-|33|`

We can now remove the absolute value - we've made the value positive. When we remove the brackets in this question, there is a negative sign outside of the brackets:

`-33`

And this is the final answer. The absolute value brackets only ensure that the value inside of them is positive - it doesn't affect what happens outside of the brackets.