Question

A lifeguard station is 6 meters higher than the shore of a lake. The bottom of the lake is 12 meters below the lake’s shore. On a number line, let 0 represent the elevation of the lake’s shore, with higher elevations on the positive side of 0. Which number sentence correctly compares the absolute values of the elevation of the lifeguard station and the bottom of the lake? A. |-6| > |12| B. |-6| = |12| C. |6| < |-12| D. |6| > |-12|

Answer 1

The answer is C

The absolute value of a number is simply the positive version of that number. So, if a number is already positive the absolute value does nothing, else it switches its sign.

This is easier done than said: we have $|6| = 6$ and $|-12|=12$. And since $6$, C is correct. Let's see why the others are wrong:

Option A translates to $6>12$

Option B translates to $6=12$

Option D translates to $6>12$