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chalven1
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Mod question. 16 Sep 2008, 05:31
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This is probably a silly question...if x/|y| = -1, then, x = ?

-y, right?

Thanks in advance guys.



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alpha_plus_gamma
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Mod question. 16 Sep 2008, 05:35
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chalven1
This is probably a silly question...if x/|y| = -1, then, x = ?

-y, right?

Thanks in advance guys.
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x = -1 |y|
if y > 0
x = -y
if y < 0
x = y
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chalven1
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I thought modulus of a number is always positive...isn't it? Please let me know guys...Thanks...
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wizardofwashington
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Mod question. 16 Sep 2008, 20:51
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chalven1
This is probably a silly question...if x/|y| = -1, then, x = ?

-y, right?

Thanks in advance guys.
Show more

Yes.. You are correct. In the above equation X/lYl, for any value of Y (be it negative of positive), the modulus of Y will turn it into a +ve number. To demonstrate, let us assume that X = 2. For us to arrive at -1, lYl should be a negative value of the same number, which is not going to happen.
2/l-2l = 1. Now, the only way for us to arrive at the "-ve" number on the right side of the equation is to have a numerator that is "-ve", which automatically implies the '-ve' of Y.

-2/l2l = -1.

Hope this helps
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scthakur
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Mod question. 18 Sep 2008, 01:42
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wizardofwashington
chalven1
This is probably a silly question...if x/|y| = -1, then, x = ?

-y, right?

Thanks in advance guys.

Yes.. You are correct. In the above equation X/lYl, for any value of Y (be it negative of positive), the modulus of Y will turn it into a +ve number. To demonstrate, let us assume that X = 2. For us to arrive at -1, lYl should be a negative value of the same number, which is not going to happen.
2/l-2l = 1. Now, the only way for us to arrive at the "-ve" number on the right side of the equation is to have a numerator that is "-ve", which automatically implies the '-ve' of Y.

-2/l2l = -1.

Hope this helps
Show more


That is not always true though.

Assuming x = -y

case 1: y = -2 and hence x = 2 and x/|y| = 2/2 = 1
case 2: y = 2 and hence x = -2 and x/|y| = -2/2 = -1

Hence, as alpha_plus_gama has explained, x = y if y 0.



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