What Does Absolute Value Mean?

Absolute value refers to the distance of a number from zero on the number line, regardless of direction. It is always a non-negative number.

Key Points:

• The absolute value of a number xxx is written as ∣x∣|x|∣x∣.
• If xxx is positive or zero, ∣x∣=x|x|=x∣x∣=x.
• If xxx is negative, ∣x∣=−x|x|=-x∣x∣=−x (which makes it positive).

Examples:

• ∣5∣=5|5|=5∣5∣=5 (because 5 is already positive)
• ∣−3∣=3|-3|=3∣−3∣=3 (because the distance from -3 to 0 is 3)
• ∣0∣=0|0|=0∣0∣=0

Why is it useful?

Absolute value helps measure how far a number is from zero without considering direction, which is useful in many math problems involving distance, magnitude, or difference. If you'd like, I can give you more examples or explain how to use absolute value in equations!