November 02, 2022

Absolute ValueMeaning, How to Calculate Absolute Value, Examples

Many perceive absolute value as the length from zero to a number line. And that's not wrong, but it's by no means the whole story.

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

Definition of Absolute Value?

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

Definition of Absolute Value

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

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

Examples

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

The absolute value of -3 is 3.

Now, let's check out another absolute value example. Let's say 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 mean? It tells us that absolute value is always positive, even if the number itself is negative.

How to Calculate the Absolute Value of a Expression or Figure

You should know a handful of things before working on how to do it. A handful of closely associated features will support you grasp how the number within the absolute value symbol works. Thankfully, what we have here is an definition of the ensuing four rudimental characteristics of absolute value.

Fundamental Properties of Absolute Values

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

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

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

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

With above-mentioned four essential characteristics in mind, let's check out two more helpful characteristics of the absolute value:

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

Triangle inequality: The absolute value of the variance within two real numbers is lower than or equivalent to the absolute value of the sum of their absolute values.

Now that we learned these characteristics, we can ultimately begin learning how to do it!

Steps to Calculate the Absolute Value of a Figure

You have to obey few steps to find the absolute value. These steps are:

Step 1: Jot down the number of whom’s absolute value you desire to discover.

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

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

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

Step 5: The absolute value of the number is the figure you obtain subsequently steps 2, 3 or 4.

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

Example 1

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

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

Step 2: By using the fundamental characteristics, we learn that the absolute value of the total of these two figures is equivalent to 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 calculate for x: x = 20-5, x = 15

As we see, x equals 15, so its distance from zero will also be as same as 15, and the equation above is true.

Example 2

Now let's work on one more absolute value example. We'll use the absolute value function to get a new equation, similar to |x*3| = 6. To make it, we again need to obey the steps:

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

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

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

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

Absolute value can include several complex expressions or rational numbers in mathematical settings; however, that is something we will work on another day.

The Derivative of Absolute Value Functions

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

f'(x)=|x|/x

For absolute value functions, the area is all real numbers except 0, and the distance 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 0, so the derivative of the absolute value at 0 is 0.

The absolute value function is not distinctable at 0 because 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 offered 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 differentiable at 0.

Grade Potential Can Guide You with Absolute Value

If the absolute value appears like a lot to take in, or if you're struggling with math, Grade Potential can help. We offer face-to-face tutoring by professional and certified teachers. They can guide you with absolute value, derivatives, and any other concepts that are confusing you.

Call us today to know more about how we can help you succeed.