Absolute Value Statements....2

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on rewriting mathematical statements using absolute values. The first statement, "The number y is less than one unit from the number t," is correctly expressed as |t - y| < 1. The second statement regarding the sum of distances is clarified; the correct formulation is |a| + |b| ≥ |a + b|, emphasizing the triangle inequality in absolute value terms. Participants confirm the accuracy of these rewrites and provide insights into the proper use of absolute values in mathematical expressions.

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mathdad
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Rewrite each statement using absolute values.

1. The number y is less than one unit from the number t.

y < | t - 1 |

2. The sum of the distances of a and b from the origin is greater than or equal to the distance of a + b from the origin.

| a + b - 0 | > or = | a + b - 0 |

Is this correct? If not, why not?
 
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RTCNTC said:
Rewrite each statement using absolute values.

1. The number y is less than one unit from the number t.

y < | t - 1 |

What if this is reworded to say the same thing, but in the form you had no trouble with:

"The distance between y and t is less than 1 unit" ?

RTCNTC said:
2. The sum of the distances of a and b from the origin is greater than or equal to the distance of a + b from the origin.

| a + b - 0 | > or = | a + b - 0 |

Is this correct? If not, why not?

This isn't correct...the sum of the distances of a and b from the origin would be:

$$|a|+|b|$$

And the distance of the sum a + b from the origin is:

$$|a+b|$$

And so we would write:

$$|a|+|b|\ge|a+b|$$
 
"The distance between y and t is less than 1 unit" ?

| t - y | < 1 or | y - t | < 1

Yes?
 

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