SOLUTION: Suppose that a is a negative real number. Determine whether each of the following is positive or negative, and explain your answer. . a) -a b) |-a| c)-|a| d) -(-a) e)-|-a|

Algebra ->  Real-numbers -> SOLUTION: Suppose that a is a negative real number. Determine whether each of the following is positive or negative, and explain your answer. . a) -a b) |-a| c)-|a| d) -(-a) e)-|-a|      Log On


   

Question 246294: Suppose that a is a negative real number. Determine whether each of the following is positive or negative, and explain your answer.
.
a) -a
b) |-a|
c)-|a|
d) -(-a)
e)-|-a|
Answer by College Student(505) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Suppose that a is a negative real number. Determine whether each of the following is positive or negative, and explain your answer.
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a) -a
If "a" is a negative number, the opposite of "a" results in a positive number.
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b) |-a|
An absolute value of any real number (whether it is positive or negative) will always result in a positive answer.
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c)-|a|
The opposite of the result of an absolute value will always be negative. As stated above, all absolute values are positive, therefore, its opposite will always be negative.
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d) -(-a)
This one is not an absolute value problem. When we calculate a negative of a negative of a negative... (3 negatives) the result is a negative figure.
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e)-|-a|
This one is very similar to problem "c)". The end result of an absolute value will always be positive. However, in this case, we are looking for the opposite of the absolute value result. Therefore, our result will be a negative number.
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Done!