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

Answer 1

Genesis Amaya

The "absolute value" symbol, which encircles the numbers, has the effect of making any number it contains positive.

This implies that:

#|15|=15#

And that:

#|-1|=1#

We can solve the equation from here:

#|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.

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Answer 2

Emery Allen

To evaluate ( |15| - |{-1}| ), simply calculate the absolute values:

( |15| = 15 )

( |{-1}| = 1 )

Then, subtract:

( |15| - |{-1}| = 15 - 1 = 14 )

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.