Chapter 2: Problem 42
Simplify. See Examples 1 through \(10\). $$ |3-15| \cdot(-4) \div(-16) $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The simplified result is 3.
Step by step solution
01
Simplify the Absolute Value
Calculate the absolute value of \( 3 - 15 \). Start by solving the expression inside the absolute value brackets. \( 3 - 15 = -12 \). The absolute value of \(-12\) is \(12\).
02
Substitute and Simplify the Expression
Replace \(|3-15|\) with \(12\) in the expression. Thus, the expression becomes \( 12 \cdot (-4) \div (-16) \).
03
Perform Multiplication
Multiply \(12\) by \(-4\) to get \(-48\). The expression is now \(-48 \div (-16)\).
04
Perform Division
Divide \(-48\) by \(-16\). Two negative signs will cancel out, so the result is a positive \(3\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Absolute Value
When dealing with absolute values, we are essentially looking at the distance a number is from zero on a number line, without considering direction. This means that the absolute value of both \(+12\) and \(-12\) is \(|12| = 12\). It's important to first address any calculations inside the absolute value brackets before determining the absolute value.
- Start by solving any expressions inside the absolute value signs.
- Replace the negative result, if any, with its positive counterpart.
Multiplication
Multiplication is a basic arithmetic operation that combines numbers to get a product. In multiplication of integers, pay special attention to the signs involved:
- Multiplying two positive numbers or two negative numbers results in a positive product.
- Multiplying a positive number by a negative number, or vice versa, results in a negative product.
Division
Division can be thought of as distributing a number into a certain number of equal parts. Similar to multiplication, division of numbers follows rules regarding signs:
- Dividing two numbers with the same sign yields a positive quotient.
- Dividing two numbers with different signs yields a negative quotient.
Negative Numbers
Negative numbers are numbers less than zero, usually represented with a minus sign. Handling negative numbers in operations involves understanding a few key points:
- When adding two negative numbers, you get a more negative result.
- When subtracting a negative number, it's like adding a positive number.
- The product or quotient of two negative numbers is positive.