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1 vote
Evaluate |x-13| when x=5.
A.8
B.-8
C.21
D.-21

asked
User LoQ
by
8.2k points

1 Answer

1 vote
5 - 13 = -8

But remember it is in the ||. This means the answer will, no matter what, be positive.

So the answer is |-8|, or +8.

A is the answer.

Now for an explanation of why the || makes it positive.

They are know as "absolute values." Absolute values will always, no matter what, be a positive number. These can be very tricky to deal with, but just remember to answer what is in the || first, and THEN do the absolute value. Remember that on a number line, the middle is always 0. And because -8 and 8 are both 8 spaces away from 0, the absolute value will be 8. This is why it is positive. You cannot be negative spaces away from something.
answered
User Kristen Grote
by
9.3k points

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