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1.3.2. Absolute value

The absolute value of a number x is written as |x|.

The absolute value of a complex number is defined as the distance from the origin on the Argand diagram. For x = a + bi the absolute value of z is given by:

|x| = √(a2 + b2)
The absolute value of a real number is the distance from the origin on the real line. That is,
|x| = √(a2)
This is equivalent to:
If a ≥ 0, then |a| = a, otherwise |a| = -a.


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Copyright © 2005, Stephen R. Schmitt