Academic Year 2022-23
Grade: MYP 4
Unit 1: Numerical and Abstract Reasoning (Algebra)
Key concept: Form
Related concept(s): Model, Representation
Global context: Identities and relationships
Global Context Exploration:
Students will explore identities and relationships to improve their decision making through
modelling.
Statement of Inquiry: Decision-making can be improved by using a form of model to
represent relationships.
Connection with SOI: Solving linear equations or inequalities using absolute values
algebraically helps in improving decision making through modelling.
Topic: Absolute Values
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Task 1: Highway Driving
On a highway, driving too fast or too slow can cause accidents. For safe highway driving, there
should be no more than a 20 km/h difference between cars’ speeds.
a) Gauthier is driving at 97 km/h. Nathan is driving at 113 km/h on the same section of
highway. Determine whether or not they are driving safely relative to each other.
So, driving too fast or too slow on a highway can cause accidents. And for safe driving the car’s
speeds should not vary more than 20km/h from each other.
Gauthier is driving at 97 km/h. And Nathan is driving 113/h on the same section of the highway.
113 – 97 = 16
Hence, they are driving safely relative to each other.
b) The average speed on a stretch of highway is 110 km/h. If Louis is travelling at the average
speed, find the minimum and maximum speeds for others to be driving safely relatively to Louis on
this stretch of highway.
The minimum speeds for others should be driving safely relative to Louis on this stretch of
highway
= 110 – 20 = 90 km/h
The maximum speeds for others should be driving safely relative to Louis on this stretch of
highway
= 110 + 20 = 130 km/h
Task 2. Evaluate the value of these expressions.
i. | 2 + 3(–4) |
ii. –| (–2)2 |
iii. |8+7|−|5+6|
iv. 7|-3| -2|-32| + |23 -1|
i. | 2 + 3(–4) |
| 2 + -12 |
| -10 |
= 10
ii. –| (–2)2 |
= -4
iii. |8+7|−|5+6|
= | 15| - | 11 |
=4
iv. 7|-3| -2|-32| + |23 -1|
= -21
Task 3 (a) Evaluate and complete the table given below
A B |a + b| |a| + |b| |a – b| |b – a| |a| - |b|
8 3
6 -4
-1 9
-5 -7
¼ -1/2
(b) Draw conclusions from the table.
Use the symbols ≥, ≤ and = to complete these general properties:
i. |a – b| = |b – a|
ii. |a + b| |a| + |b|
iii. |a + b| ≥ |a| - |b|
iv. |a – b| |a| - |b|
c) Write down your findings as a general rule.
Task 4. Solve for x.
a. |x| = 8
b. |x – 2| = 6
c. |x – 4| = - 6
d. |2x + 5| + 4 = 3
e. |3x + 1 | = 0
Task 5: Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia is 1149 mts long. Because of change in
temperature, the bridge can expand or contract by as much as 420 mm.
a) Write down an absolute value equation for the above situation.
b) Solve the equation to find the minimum and maximum lengths of the bridge.
References:
Harrison, Rose, et al. MYP Mathematics: a Concept-Based Approach. Oxford University
Press, 2016.
