sandy wrote:
Quantity A: \(|x^2|\)
Quantity B: \(|x|^2\)
The outcome of each quantity is the same.
|x²|: the x² portion already converts any value into a POSITIVE number (unless x = 0, in which case it remains 0). So, taking the absolute value of x² has no effect; the value remains positive.
|x|²: the absolute value portion converts any value into a POSITIVE number (unless x = 0, in which case it remains 0). Squaring the resulting value results in a positive number.
Let's test a few values of x:
x = 2|x²| = |
2²| = |4| = 4
|x|² = |
2|² = 2² = 4
x = -3|x²| = |
-3²| = |9| = 9
|x|² = |
-3|² = 3² = 9
x = 0|x²| = |
0²| = |0| = 0
|x|² = |
0|² = 0² = 0
Answer:
Cheers,
Brent