$|-1-2|-\big||-3|-4\big|$

Project ID: 
3000000044
SubArea: 
Question: 

Kate simplified the absolute value expression $$|-1-2|-\big||-3|-4\big|$$ in the following steps:

(1) She removed the nested absolute value as follows: $$|-1-2|-|3-4|$$

(2) Then she removed the remaining absolute values. The absolute value turns negative numbers into positive numbers. $$1+2-(3+4)$$

(3) She removed the parentheses as follows: $$1+2-3-4$$

(4) Finally, she found the sum of the numbers: $$1+2-3-4=-4$$

Is her solution correct? If not, identify all her mistakes.

Answer 1: 

Yes. The whole solution is perfectly fine.

Answer 2: 

No, her solution is not correct. The mistake is in step (2). The correct solution is: $$|-1-2|-|3-4|=|-3|-|-1|=3+1=4$$

Answer 3: 

No, her solution is not correct. The mistake is in step (2). The correct solution is: $$|-1-2|-|3-4|=|-3|-|-1|=3-1=2$$

Answer 4: 

No, her solution is not correct. The mistake is in step (3). The correct solution is: $$1+2-(3+4)=1+2-3+4=4$$

Fixed Answer: 
All Fixed
Correct Answer: 
Answer 3
Hint: 

Correct solution:

$$|-1-2|-\big||-3|-4\big|=|-3|-|3-4|=|-3|-|-1|=3-1=2$$