How do you evaluate #abs(15)-abs(-1)#?

1 Answer
Mar 5, 2018

14

Explanation:

The symbol surrounding the numbers is called " absolute value ". Its function is to make whatever number it contains positive.

This means that:

#|15|=15#

And that:

#|-1|=1#

From this, we can solve the equation:

#|15|-|-1|=15-1=14#

Note:

The operation (#-#) would not have been affected by the absolute value sign even if it was contained within one. Had the sign encompassed the whole equation: #|15-(-1)|#, then the two negatives would have formed a #+#, so that #|15+1|=|16|#. The absolute value would then act on the positive #16#, keeping it positive.