Simplify (5-9)^2-|5-9|

${(5 - 9)}^{2} - | 5 - 9 |$

Step 1

Simplify each term.

Subtract $9$ from $5$ .

${(- 4)}^{2} - | 5 - 9 |$

Raise $- 4$ to the power of $2$ .

$16 - | 5 - 9 |$

Subtract $9$ from $5$ .

$16 - | - 4 |$

The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero. The distance between $- 4$ and $0$ is $4$ .

$16 - 1 \cdot 4$

Multiply $- 1$ by $4$ .

$16 - 4$

Step 2

Subtract $4$ from $16$ .

$12$