Algebra/Absolute Value
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Algebra
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The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero. Finding the absolute value of a number is concerned with finding the 'value' of the number, without concern to whether the sign of a number is negative or positive.
Thus, absolute value functions graphed often exhibit a dramatic switch from positive to negative at some point. Forming a 'v' shape commonly.
This is the graph of y = |x|. Notice that when the x-values become negative the y-values remain positive.
The graph of the absolute value function for real numbers.
The graph of y = |x - a| + b is the same as the shown one, except a units to the right and b units up.
