How do you valuate #|9| + | - 12| + | 5| + | - 8|#?

1 Answer
Mar 26, 2017

#|9|+|-12|+|5|+|-8|=34#

Explanation:

#|a|# means absolute value of #a# and it tells us its physical value without any sign.

Therefore while absolute value of say #3.14# is #3.14#,

absolute value of #-2.783# is #2.783#.

Mathematically we write this as

#|a|=a# if #aa>=0# and #|a|=-a# if #a<0#.

The latter is true as #a<0# makes #a# negative and #-a# makes i positive again.

Hence #|9|+|-12|+|5|+|-8|#

= #9+12+5+8#

= #34#