Table of contents

0. Review of Algebra4h 16m
1. Equations & Inequalities3h 18m
2. Graphs of Equations43m
3. Functions2h 17m
4. Polynomial Functions1h 44m
5. Rational Functions1h 23m
6. Exponential & Logarithmic Functions2h 28m
7. Systems of Equations & Matrices4h 6m
8. Conic Sections2h 23m
9. Sequences, Series, & Induction1h 19m
10. Combinatorics & Probability1h 45m

0. Review of Algebra

Exponents

College Algebra

0. Review of Algebra

Exponents

1:19 minutes

Problem 3

Textbook Question

In Exercises 1–12, find each absolute value. |4|

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Absolute Value

Absolute value is a mathematical function that measures the distance of a number from zero on the number line, regardless of direction. It is denoted by two vertical bars surrounding the number, such as |x|. For any real number x, the absolute value is defined as |x| = x if x is greater than or equal to zero, and |x| = -x if x is less than zero.

Properties of Absolute Value

The absolute value function has several important properties. For instance, |a| is always non-negative, meaning it is either zero or positive. Additionally, the absolute value of a product is the product of the absolute values, |ab| = |a| * |b|, and the absolute value of a sum satisfies the triangle inequality: |a + b| ≤ |a| + |b|.

Evaluating Absolute Value

To evaluate the absolute value of a number, you simply determine its distance from zero. For example, to find |4|, since 4 is positive, the absolute value is 4 itself. If the number were negative, such as |-4|, the absolute value would also be 4, demonstrating that absolute value always yields a non-negative result.