How do you evaluate #|9+ - 12+ 5+ - 8|#?
1 Answer
Explanation:
First evaluate whatever is inside the absolute value symbols.
As far as PEMDAS, there is only addition and subtraction, so just move from left to right.
#|color(red)(9+(-12))+5+(-8)| color(white)"XXX"# Add the first two terms together.
#|color(red)((-3)) + 5 + (-8)|#
#|color(orange)((-3) + 5) + (-8)| color(white)"XXXX"# Now add that number to the next term.
#|color(orange)(2)+(-8)|#
#|color(limegreen)(2+(-8))| color(white)"XXXXXXXXX"# Now add that number to the next term.
#|color(limegreen)(-6)|#
#color(blue)(|-6|) color(white)"XXXXXXXXX"# Finally, take the absolute value of this number.
The absolute value of a number is just its distance (how far away it is) from
Even though
In other words,
#color(blue)(|-6|) = 6#
So the final answer is
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(Remember, absolute value is never negative, since it is the distance from zero. Absolute value of a positive number is just that number, and absolute value of a negative number is that number with a positive sign instead of a negative sign.)