can somebody easily explain step by step what an absolute value is and give me an example?

Answer 1

Think of it as the distance from zero on a number line. If you create a number line running from, for example, -10 through zero to +10, the absolute value of 3 or -3 is both 3, because they are 3 places away from zero.

Answer 2

Absolute value is how far from zero a number is. For example, |5| = 5. 5 is 5 away from 0. |-5| = 5. -5 is also 5 away from zero, just in the opposite direction from 5.

In most cases, if a number is zero or positive, the absolute value of that number is just the same number. And if a number is negative, the absolute value of that number is just that same number without the negative sign.

Answer 3

wow a math question i can actually answer well an absolute value is the numbers distance from zero on the number line
it is always positve so the absolute value of 2 is 2 the absolute value of -2 is 2
because -2 and 2 are both 2 spaces away from zero on the number line like this
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
now start at zero count over from zero to 2, how many places over did u go?
sorry if it was confusing...
do the same over to negative 2, how many spaces? thats ur absolute value for that number anyway

Answer 4

How far away from zero is the number?
That's the absolute value...


-3 is 3 places from 0. The absolute value of |-3| = 3

Answer 5

Absolute value does not take into account the sign of the number. It is denoted by 2 vertical bars for example abs value of 5 is denoted as

| 5 |

Couple of things to note:

1) Absolute value of a positive number is itself
Ex: | 5 | = 5.

2) Absolute value of a negative number is the same number without the negative sign in front of it.

Ex | -125 | = 125.

So, if it is negative, just drop the "-" sign, it is that simple.

Answer 6

The absolute value of a number is basically the positive quantity of the number for example | -8 | = 8. "| number or variable |" is the way that math refers to the absolute value

Answer 7

I am sure there is a three page proof out there somewhere. But the short version is:

The absolute value of any number is represented by the positive value of that number. It is written in the following form:

The absolute value of negative three or |-3| = 3 or positive three.

Answer 8

The absolute value of a number is the number without regard to whether it is positive or negative. If a number is positive, its absolute value is itself: | 5 | = 5

If it's negative, the absolute value is the negation of that: | -91 | = 91.

The absolute value of zero is zero.

In a nutshell, just take away a negative sign if it's there.

Answer 9

absolute value is the distance from any number, positive or negative, from zero. so the absolute value of -7 is 7. because even though it is a negative number, the distance from -7 to zero is still 7!
and absolute value is never negative because of that.

Answer 10

A numbers numerical value without its sign.

(ex) the absolute value of -3 is 3