2006-09-27 15:26:07 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
The value of a could be -5.
Think of -a as the opposite of a.
So what's the opposite of -5? +5
So the absolute value of a negative number should be its opposite... or -a
2006-09-27 15:30:55 · answer #1 · answered by J G 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The absolute value of a number is defined as follows:
abs (a) = a if a >= 0
abs(a) = -a if a < 0
Let's take the abs(-1) using this definition
a = -1 Thus a<0 So we must use the second part of the definition which says abs(-1) = - (-1) = 1
See how it works?
2006-09-27 15:31:30 · answer #2 · answered by z_o_r_r_o 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
l-al is a think of a number line when using your absolute value. how many places does it move to the number inside the symbol. this is why it is absolute. if you count from zero to -5 down the number line, you count 5.
2006-09-27 15:53:42 · answer #3 · answered by vadawa13 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It cannot.
Absolute value, by definition, is positive (except zero)
only a negative sign outside the absolute value will make it negative.
ex: -|a| = -a or -|-a| = -a but |a| = a and |-a| = a
2006-09-27 15:37:32 · answer #4 · answered by vector4tfc 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
What is meant when it says "a" can be "-a" it means inside the | | "a" could have been a postive to start with or it could have been negative the |a| and |-a| both equal "a"
2006-09-27 15:32:25 · answer #5 · answered by mjb1285 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Zorro has it.
2006-09-27 15:47:48 · answer #6 · answered by ♥Tom♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋