Question

HURRY PLEASE!! Evaluate the expression below.

20 – ||–13| + 17|




A) –10


B) 16


C) 24


D) 50

Answer 1

-10

Explanation:

We know:

| a | = a for a ≥ 0

| a| = -a for a < 0

Examples:

|3| = 3, |10| = 10, |19.4| = 19.4, |0| = 0

|-4| = -(-4) = 4, |-10| = -(-10) = 10, |-23.5| = 23.5

We have:

20 - ||-13| + 17|

Step 1: | -13| = 13

Step 2: ||-13| + 17| = |13 + 17| = |30| = 30

Step 3: 20 - ||-13| + 17| = 20 - 30 = -10

Answer 2

A

Explanation:

Given

20 - || - 13 | + 17 |

Note the absolute value function always returns a positive value, that is

| - a | = | + a | = a, thus

= 20 - | | - 13 |+ 17 |

= 20 - | 13 + 17 |

= 20 - | 30 |

= 20 - 30

= - 10 → A