Questions on Algebra: Absolute value answered by real tutors!

Rule for getting rid of absolute value bars:

1. Do all operations inside until there is only one number inside
   the absolute value bars.
2. If the number is positive, replace the absolute value bars by 
   parentheses.
3. If the number is negative, change its sign to positive and 
   change the absolute value bars to parentheses. 

For the first term , since -9 is negative, we change 
the sign, making it  and change the absolute value bars to 
parentheses: 



For the second term , since 4 is positive, we merely 
change the absolute value bars to parentheses:



For the last term, first we do the subtraction and replace  by 
.



For the , since  is negative, we change the 
sign, making it  and change the absolute value bars to parentheses:



Now we do the multiplication first, replace  by 







Edwin