SOLUTION: what do the straight lines seperating a math equation mean such as /17-12/ but with the lines being straight

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Question 354922: what do the straight lines seperating a math equation mean such as /17-12/ but with the lines being straight
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
what do the straight lines seperating a math equation mean such as /17-12/ but with the lines being straight
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They mean "absolute value" of 17-12
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Geometrically that means "the distance between 17 and 12.
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The answer is 5
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Note |17-12| is the same as |12-17|
For both the answer is 5.
====================================Cheers,
Stan H.