The absolute value is defined as

So for example, if <em>x</em> = 3, then |<em>x</em>| = |3| = 3, since 3 is positive. On the other hand, if <em>x</em> = -5, then |<em>x</em>| = |-5| = -(-5) = 5, since -5 is negative. The absolute value is always positive.
For the inequality |7 + 8<em>x</em>| > 5, you consider the two cases where the argument to the absolute value (the expression you find inside the bars) is either positive or negative.
• If 7 + 8<em>x</em> ≥ 0, then |7 + 8<em>x</em>| = 7 + 8<em>x</em>, so that

• Otherwise, if 7 + 8<em>x</em> < 0, then |7 + 8<em>x</em>| = -(7 + 8<em>x</em>), so that

The solution to the inequality is the union of these two intervals.
Answer: the smallest is 2^5, 6^2, 3^4 and the largest is 5^3
So, f[x] = 1/4x^2 - 1/2Ln(x)
<span>thus f'[x] = 1/4*2x - 1/2*(1/x) = x/2 - 1/2x </span>
<span>thus f'[x]^2 = (x^2)/4 - 2*(x/2)*(1/2x) + 1/(4x^2) = (x^2)/4 - 1/2 + 1/(4x^2) </span>
<span>thus f'[x]^2 + 1 = (x^2)/4 + 1/2 + 1/(4x^2) = (x/2 + 1/2x)^2 </span>
<span>thus Sqrt[...] = (x/2 + 1/2x) </span>