Absolute Value

Absolute Value means how far a number is from zero – the distance from 0 to that number. When you want to know the absolute value of a number:

  • Absolute values of positive numbers is the same positive number
  • Absolute values of negative numbers is the same positive number
  • Absolute value of 0 is 0

Absolute Value is never a negative number. Think of the Absolute Value of all numbers as positive or 0. When you want to know the Absolute Value of a negative number, it’s as easy as removing the negative sign and making it a positive number.

Absolute Value Examples

Here are some examples of Absolute Value:

  • Absolute Value of -6 is 6
  • Absolute Value of 8 is 8
  • Absolute Value of -14 is 14
  • Absolute Value of 20 is 20
  • Absolute Value of 0 is 0

Absolute Value Symbol

When you want to show the Absolute Value of a number in an equation, place a | on both side of the number. And remember, to always think of that number as a positive number or 0, even if the number between the | is a negative number.

Absolute Value Equation Examples

Here are some Absolute Value equations showing use of the Absolute Value symbol:

  • | -6 | = 6
  • | 8 | = 8
  • | -14 | = 14
  • | 20 | = 20
  • | 0 | = 0

Here are some basic Absolute Value math equations:

  • | 7 – 4 | = 3
  • | 15 – 9 | = 6
  • | 11 – 7 | = 4
  • | 10 – 14 | = 4
    • | 10 – 14 |  = | -4 |
    • | -4 | = 4
  • | 8 – 10 | = 2
    • | 8 – 10 | = | -2 |
    • | -2 | = 2

Here are some more advanced Absolute Value math equations:

  •  | -5 x 3 | = 15
    • | -5 x 3 | = | -15 |
    • | -15 | = 15
  • -| 8 – 3 | = -5
    • -| 8 – 3 | = -| 5 |
    • -| 5 | = -5
  • -| 4 – 6 | = -2
    • -| 4 – 6 | = -| -2 |
    • -| -2 | = -2
  • -| -7 | = -7