Question

Which of the following uses absolute value correctly to show the distance between −40 and 18? Select one:

a. |−40 − 18| = |−58| = −58 units
b. |−40 + 18| = |−22| = 22 units
c. |−40 − 18| = |−58| = 58 units
d. |−40 + 18| = |−22| = −22 units

Answer 1

The correct use of absolute value to find the distance between -40 and 18 is |−40 − 18| = |−58| = 58 units, which is option c.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct usage of absolute value to show the distance between −40 and 18 is given by the calculation of the absolute difference between the two numbers. In mathematical terms, distance is the absolute value of the difference between two points on the number line. Hence, to find the distance between −40 and 18, we subtract one value from the other and take the absolute value of the result.

The correct calculation is: |−40 – 18| = |−58| = 58 units. This represents the distance because distance can never be negative; it always has to be a positive value or zero. Thus, the correct answer is c. |−40 − 18| = |−58| = 58 units.