Answer: Choice D
|-50-12| = |-62| = 62 units
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Explanation:
Draw out a number line. Mark two points on it at A = -50 and B = 12
The expression |A-B| represents the distance between the two points. So that would be....
|A-B| = |-50-12| = |-62| = 62
Note that negative distance does not make sense. The smallest distance can get is 0. So the result of an absolute value problem is never negative.
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Slightly alternative method:
If you wanted, you could plot point C on the number like such that C is at 0.
The distance from A = -50 to C = 0 is exactly 50 units
From C = 0 to B = 12 is an additional 12 units
Therefore, the total distance is AC+CB = 50+12 = 62 units
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Side note: |A-B| is the same as |B-A|. The order of subtraction doesn't matter as long as you use absolute value. If absolute value wasn't there, then A-B is different from B-A.
