Solve |-1/2-4/2|

$$| \frac { - 1 } { 2 } - \frac { 4 } { 2 } |$$

Evaluate

$$\frac{5}{2}=2.5$$

Solution Steps

Fraction \frac{-1}{2} can be rewritten as -\frac{1}{2} by extracting the negative sign.

$$|-\frac{1}{2}-\frac{4}{2}|$$

Since -\frac{1}{2} and \frac{4}{2} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

$$|\frac{-1-4}{2}|$$

Subtract 4 from -1 to get -5.

$$|-\frac{5}{2}|$$

The absolute value of a real number a is a when a\geq 0, or -a when a<0. The absolute value of -\frac{5}{2} is \frac{5}{2}.

$$\frac{5}{2}$$

Factor

$$\frac{5}{2} = 2\frac{1}{2} = 2.5$$