November 02, 2022

Absolute ValueMeaning, How to Find Absolute Value, Examples

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

In math, an absolute value is the magnitude of a real number irrespective of its sign. So the absolute value is at all time a positive number or zero (0). Let's look at what absolute value is, how to find absolute value, some examples of absolute value, and the absolute value derivative.

Explanation of Absolute Value?

An absolute value of a figure is at all times positive or zero (0). It is the magnitude of a real number irrespective to its sign. This refers that if you hold a negative figure, the absolute value of that figure is the number disregarding the negative sign.

Definition of Absolute Value

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

As demonstrated, the absolute value of a figure is the distance of the number is from zero on the number line. The absolute value of negative five is 5 reason being it is five units away from zero on the number line.

Examples

If we plot -3 on a line, we can see that it is 3 units away from zero:

The absolute value of negative three is three.

Presently, let's check out one more absolute value example. Let's suppose we posses an absolute value of sin. We can graph this on a number line as well:

The absolute value of 6 is 6. So, what does this refer to? It tells us that absolute value is at all times positive, even if the number itself is negative.

How to Find the Absolute Value of a Number or Figure

You should know a handful of points before working on how to do it. A few closely linked characteristics will help you comprehend how the number within the absolute value symbol functions. Thankfully, what we have here is an definition of the ensuing 4 rudimental characteristics of absolute value.

Essential Properties of Absolute Values

Non-negativity: The absolute value of all real number is at all time positive or zero (0).

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

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

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

With these 4 fundamental properties in mind, let's look at two more beneficial properties of the absolute value:

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

Triangle inequality: The absolute value of the difference among two real numbers is less than or equal to the absolute value of the sum of their absolute values.

Considering that we know these characteristics, we can in the end start learning how to do it!

Steps to Find the Absolute Value of a Figure

You have to observe a handful of steps to calculate the absolute value. These steps are:

Step 1: Write down the number whose absolute value you want to calculate.

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

Step3: If the figure is positive, do not change it.

Step 4: Apply all characteristics relevant to the absolute value equations.

Step 5: The absolute value of the figure is the figure you have following steps 2, 3 or 4.

Keep in mind that the absolute value symbol is two vertical bars on either side of a figure or number, like this: |x|.

Example 1

To start out, let's consider an absolute value equation, such as |x + 5| = 20. As we can see, there are two real numbers and a variable inside. To figure this out, we have 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 provided with the equation |x+5| = 20, and we are required to find the absolute value within the equation to get x.

Step 2: By utilizing the basic properties, we learn that the absolute value of the sum of these two expressions is the same as the sum 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 solve for x: x = 20-5, x = 15

As we can observe, x equals 15, so its length from zero will also equal 15, and the equation above is right.

Example 2

Now let's work on another absolute value example. We'll utilize the absolute value function to find a new equation, similar to |x*3| = 6. To make it, we again have to follow the steps:

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

Step 2: We need to solve for x, so we'll start by dividing 3 from both side of the equation. This step offers us |x| = 2.

Step 3: |x| = 2 has two possible answers: x = 2 and x = -2.

Step 4: Hence, the original equation |x*3| = 6 also has two potential results, x=2 and x=-2.

Absolute value can involve a lot of complex figures or rational numbers in mathematical settings; still, that is something we will work on separately to this.

The Derivative of Absolute Value Functions

The absolute value is a constant function, this refers it is distinguishable everywhere. The following formula provides 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 range 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 distinctable at 0 reason being the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are not uniform. The left-hand limit is stated as:

I'm →0−(|x|/x)

The right-hand limit is provided as:

I'm →0+(|x|/x)

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

Grade Potential Can Guide You with Absolute Value

If the absolute value seems like complicated task, or if you're having a tough time with math, Grade Potential can assist you. We offer face-to-face tutoring from experienced and certified instructors. They can help you with absolute value, derivatives, and any other theories that are confusing you.

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