Simple

[Guest]

in the equation

EG= the square root of (1-5)squared + (4-1)squared

would the outcome be the square root of 61?
do you add (1-5) even tho theres a subtraction sign?[/code]

 

[tkhunny]

What does "(1-5)squared" mean? If it's really just "1-5" in those parentheses, then 1-5 = -4 and 4-1 = 3.

Think about it a little longer. "do you add ... even tho theres a subtraction sign" Does that make any sense to you?

 

[Guest]

haha i know it sounds stupid but theres something to do with the equation the teacher said the () was like putting it in absolute value signs which would mean (1-5) would be 6 correct?

 

[stapel]

No, 1 - 5 is never the same as 1 + 5.

Eliz.

 

[mathmike]

haha i know it sounds stupid but theres something to do with the equation the teacher said the () was like putting it in absolute value signs which would mean (1-5) would be 6 correct?

What teacher most likely referred to is the fact that:
sqrt(x^2) = |x| and not simply x
i.e. sqrt((1-5)^2) = |1-5| = 4

 

[Denis]

Your teacher is wrong, or is confusing the issue, or you misunderstood;
(1 - 5) = -4
|1 - 5| or ABS(1 - 5) = 4

() do NOT indicate absolute value