Which of the following correctly uses absolute value to show the distance between −60 and 13?

|−60 − 13| = |−73| = 73 units
|−60 − 13| = |−73| = −73 units
|−60 + 13| = |−47| = 47 units
|−60 + 13| = |−47| = −47 units

Question

Which of the following correctly uses absolute value to show the distance between −60 and 13?

|−60 − 13| = |−73| = 73 units
 |−60 − 13| = |−73| = −73 units
 |−60 + 13| = |−47| = 47 units
 |−60 + 13| = |−47| = −47 units

Mercury · Answer

first start with the inside of the absolute value signs

-60 - 13 = ?

then remove the negative sign from the result, if any, as a result of the absolute value signs around the expression