math help with absolute value!?

Question

I get the basic concept of absolute value... but can someone help me with this?

- l -4 + 1 l + (-4) l -7 + -8l

a. -67
b. -63
c. -65
d. -15
e. 27

I cannot for the life of me come up with any of those answers!
If the negative sign is outside the absolute value lines, does that change the absolute numbers or do I ignore it?

Thanks!!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

It is kind of confusing at first.

The answer is b. -63

Think of absolute values as (parentheses).  You have to complete what's inside of them, before you deal with the outside.  

- l -4 + 1 l + (-4) l -7 + -8l

So, absolute value of -4 + 1 = -3  and |-3| = 3
Absolute value of -7 + -8 = -15  and |-15| = 15
so -(3) + (-4)(15)=
-3 + (-60) = -63

Got it? Good!  Great job!:)

Anonymous · Answer

It's -63 because | -4 + 1 | is | -3 |, which is 3. And there's a negative sign in front of that, so the first term is -3. | -7 + -8 | is |-15|, which equals 15. Then you multiply 15 by -4 because of order of opperations, and that gives you -60. you add the -60 to the -3 and get -63. Sorry if that made no sense.

Anonymous · Answer

if the negative is out side, u add it to the # later.

math help with absolute value!?

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