Question

Evaluate the expression when $x=-4$.
localid="1648723812484" $-x$

Short answer

The value of the expressionis 4.

Step-by-step solution

Step-1 – Absolute value of a number

Absolute value of any positive or negative number is always positive and equal to the magnitude of the number. The absolute value of a number N is denoted by $\left|N\right|$.

For example, the absolute value of 3 is denoted by $\left|3\right|$and is equal to 3.

And the absolute value of $-4$is denoted by $\left|-4\right|$and is equal to 4.

Step-2 – Opposite of a number

Opposite of any real number can be obtained by multiplying it with $-1$. On the number line, opposite of any number be located on the opposite side at the same distance from the midpoint 0.

For example, the opposite of the number $-5$ is 5.

Step-3 – Evaluate the expression

To evaluate the value of the expression $-x$, substitute $-4$ for x and simplify further as shown below,

$\begin{array}{l}-x=-\left(-4\right)\\ =4\end{array}$

Thus, the value of the given expression is 4.