Question

Please help this is making no sense?? question in comments

Answer 1

Everything inside absolute values turns positive before it's divided/added/subtracted etc.
so 8-|21-13-9|-|-4| turns into 8-21+13+9-4 :)

Answer 2

oh, it's just telling me to take away the negatives instead of turn them into positives.. it makes sense now, thanks!

Answer 3

Yup absolute values turns everything inside positive
So -|8| = 8
|-8-9|=17