The absolute value
of a number is its distance to the origin on the real number line.
Since 2 is at 2 units distance from the origin 0, the absolute value of 2 is 2, |2|=2
Since -2 is also at a distance of 2 units from the origin, the absolute value of -2 is 2, |-2|=2
Note the following ideas about absolute value:
- The absolute value of a number is the value of the number without its sign.
- The absolute value of a positive number is the number itself.
- The absolute value of a negative number is its opposite.
- The absolute value of any number except zero is always positive.
- The absolute value of zero is zero.
- A number and its opposite have the same absolute value.
