Evaluate Expressions With Absolute Value

Evaluate Expressions with Absolute Value

1. Substitute first
   Replace every variable in the expression with the given value. Use parentheses when the value is negative so the substitution is clear.

2. Work inside the absolute value bars
   Evaluate the expression inside (|,|) exactly as written. Remember that the absolute value makes the result nonnegative.

3. Find the absolute value
   If the inside expression is positive, the absolute value stays the same. If it is negative, change its sign to make it positive. If it is 0, the answer is 0.

4. Finish any remaining operations
   Simplify the rest of the expression using order of operations.

Quick check

Your final answer should be a single simplified value. If you get a negative number inside absolute value bars, the final result should be positive after taking the absolute value.

Example pattern

If an expression is like (|x - 5|) and (x = 2), first substitute to get (|2 - 5|), then simplify inside to get (|-3|), and finally evaluate to (3).