Absolute Value Function The absolute value of a real
number x, |x|, is ?x if x≥0
|x|= −x if x<0
|2| = 2, |−2| = −(−2) = 2
The absolute value function is used to measure the distance between two numbers. Thus, the distance between x and 0 is |x − 0| = |x|, and the distance between x and y is |x − y|. Thus, the distance from −2 to −4 is |−2−(−4)| = |−2+4| = |2| = 2, and the distance from −2 to 5 is |−2 − 5| = |−7| = 7.
|x|= −x if x<0
|2| = 2, |−2| = −(−2) = 2
The absolute value function is used to measure the distance between two numbers. Thus, the distance between x and 0 is |x − 0| = |x|, and the distance between x and y is |x − y|. Thus, the distance from −2 to −4 is |−2−(−4)| = |−2+4| = |2| = 2, and the distance from −2 to 5 is |−2 − 5| = |−7| = 7.
