November 02, 2022

Absolute ValueMeaning, How to Calculate Absolute Value, Examples

A lot of people comprehend absolute value as the length from zero to a number line. And that's not inaccurate, but it's by no means the complete story.

In math, an absolute value is the extent of a real number without considering its sign. So the absolute value is all the time a positive zero or number (0). Let's observe at what absolute value is, how to find absolute value, few examples of absolute value, and the absolute value derivative.

Explanation of Absolute Value?

An absolute value of a number is at all times zero (0) or positive. It is the magnitude of a real number without regard to its sign. That means if you hold a negative number, the absolute value of that number is the number disregarding the negative sign.

Definition of Absolute Value

The previous explanation means that the absolute value is the distance of a number from zero on a number line. So, if you think about it, the absolute value is the distance or length a figure has from zero. You can see it if you look at a real number line:

As shown, the absolute value of a number is the length of the number is from zero on the number line. The absolute value of -5 is 5 reason being it is five units away from zero on the number line.

Examples

If we graph negative three on a line, we can watch that it is 3 units away from zero:

The absolute value of negative three is 3.

Now, let's check out more absolute value example. Let's suppose we hold an absolute value of sin. We can plot this on a number line as well:

The absolute value of six is 6. So, what does this tell us? It states that absolute value is always positive, regardless if the number itself is negative.

How to Calculate the Absolute Value of a Number or Figure

You should be aware of few points prior working on how to do it. A few closely linked characteristics will support you grasp how the expression inside the absolute value symbol works. Thankfully, here we have an explanation of the following four essential properties of absolute value.

Essential Characteristics of Absolute Values

Non-negativity: The absolute value of any real number is constantly zero (0) or positive.

Identity: The absolute value of a positive number is the number itself. Otherwise, the absolute value of a negative number is the non-negative value of that same number.

Addition: The absolute value of a total is less than or equivalent to the sum of absolute values.

Multiplication: The absolute value of a product is equal to the product of absolute values.

With these four basic characteristics in mind, let's take a look at two more useful characteristics of the absolute value:

Positive definiteness: The absolute value of any real number is at all times positive or zero (0).

Triangle inequality: The absolute value of the difference between two real numbers is lower than or equal to the absolute value of the total of their absolute values.

Taking into account that we learned these properties, we can ultimately initiate learning how to do it!

Steps to Discover the Absolute Value of a Figure

You have to follow few steps to calculate the absolute value. These steps are:

Step 1: Note down the number whose absolute value you want to find.

Step 2: If the figure is negative, multiply it by -1. This will make the number positive.

Step3: If the number is positive, do not convert it.

Step 4: Apply all properties significant to the absolute value equations.

Step 5: The absolute value of the expression is the number you have after steps 2, 3 or 4.

Remember that the absolute value symbol is two vertical bars on either side of a figure or expression, similar to this: |x|.

Example 1

To start out, let's presume an absolute value equation, such as |x + 5| = 20. As we can observe, there are two real numbers and a variable inside. To work this out, we are required to calculate the absolute value of the two numbers in the inequality. We can do this by observing the steps above:

Step 1: We are given the equation |x+5| = 20, and we must find the absolute value inside the equation to find x.

Step 2: By using the essential characteristics, we know that the absolute value of the total of these two numbers is as same as the total of each absolute value: |x|+|5| = 20

Step 3: The absolute value of 5 is 5, and the x is unidentified, so let's eliminate the vertical bars: x+5 = 20

Step 4: Let's calculate for x: x = 20-5, x = 15

As we see, x equals 15, so its length from zero will also be equivalent 15, and the equation above is right.

Example 2

Now let's try one more absolute value example. We'll use the absolute value function to solve a new equation, like |x*3| = 6. To get there, we again need to follow the steps:

Step 1: We have the equation |x*3| = 6.

Step 2: We have to find the value of x, so we'll begin by dividing 3 from each side of the equation. This step offers us |x| = 2.

Step 3: |x| = 2 has two potential solutions: x = 2 and x = -2.

Step 4: Therefore, the first equation |x*3| = 6 also has two possible answers, x=2 and x=-2.

Absolute value can contain several complex expressions or rational numbers in mathematical settings; nevertheless, that is a story for another day.

The Derivative of Absolute Value Functions

The absolute value is a continuous function, this states it is varied at any given point. The ensuing formula offers the derivative of the absolute value function:

f'(x)=|x|/x

For absolute value functions, the domain is all real numbers except zero (0), and the length is all positive real numbers. The absolute value function rises for all x<0 and all x>0. The absolute value function is constant at zero(0), so the derivative of the absolute value at 0 is 0.

The absolute value function is not distinguishable at 0 reason being the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are not uniform. The left-hand limit is provided as:

I'm →0−(|x|/x)

The right-hand limit is provided as:

I'm →0+(|x|/x)

Considering the left-hand limit is negative and the right-hand limit is positive, the absolute value function is not distinctable at 0.

Grade Potential Can Guide You with Absolute Value

If the absolute value seems like a difficult topic, or if you're having a tough time with mathematics, Grade Potential can assist you. We offer face-to-face tutoring from experienced and authorized tutors. They can assist you with absolute value, derivatives, and any other concepts that are confusing you.

Call us today to learn more with regard to how we can help you succeed.