Question

Which of the following correctly uses the absolute value to show the distance between −70 and 15? (5 points)

|−70 − 15| = |−85| = −85 units
|−70 + 15| = |−55| = 55 units
|−70 − 15| = |−85| = 85 units
|−70 + 15| = |−55| = −55 units

Answer 1

85

Explanation:

15-(-70)=85

Answer 2

|-70 - 15 | = | -85 | = 85 units

Explanation:

1 - Eliminate any answers that are easily distinguished as incorrect

This is always a good habit to have

Absolute value means its always positive;

With this we can conclude the first one and the last one are not our answers

2 - Understanding the distance as a difference in two points.

Because we're figuring out how far -70 is from 15 we are finding the difference between them, not the collective sum. In mathematics difference is subtraction, and as such we're going to want to subtract 15 from -70.

REWRITE:

|-70 - 15 | = | -85 | = 85 units