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

Algebraic Expressions

College Algebra

0. Review of Algebra

Algebraic Expressions

1:07 minutes

Problem 143

Textbook Question

Evaluate each expression for x = -4 and y = 2. |3x - 2y|

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Key Concepts

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

Absolute Value

The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line, regardless of direction. It is denoted by vertical bars, such as |x|, and is always non-negative. For example, |3| = 3 and |-3| = 3. In the context of the expression |3x - 2y|, it indicates that we will take the positive value of the result after substituting x and y.

Substitution

Substitution is the process of replacing variables in an expression with their corresponding numerical values. In this case, we substitute x = -4 and y = 2 into the expression 3x - 2y. This step is crucial for evaluating the expression accurately and allows us to simplify it to a numerical value.

Linear Expressions

A linear expression is an algebraic expression in which each term is either a constant or the product of a constant and a single variable raised to the first power. The expression 3x - 2y is linear because it involves the variables x and y to the first degree. Understanding linear expressions is essential for evaluating and manipulating them in algebra.