178k views
19 votes
If x = 9 and y = 4, work out the value of xy/ 2

User MRVDOG
by
4.6k points

1 Answer

3 votes

answer: 3/1

Explanation:

This is like a puzzle, and each part tells you something. The first statement tells us that x is a negative number and y is a positive number. The next statement, x + y , is what we need to know. The first absolute value gives us x. Solve for the absolute value, that is, what is inside can be either negative or positive so either x-9 = 12 or x - 9 = -12. Solve those for x = 21 or x = -3. We know that x is negative from that first statement, , so x is -3. Do the same with the other absolute value to solve for y, then add the two together to get your final answer. hope this helps a bit!