Absolute Value Formula

Absolute value measures the distance of a number from zero on the number line. Because distance is non-negative, the absolute value of a real number is never negative.

Absolute Value Definition

|x| = x when x ≥ 0, and |x| = −x when x < 0.

Examples

|7| = 7 because 7 is seven units from zero. Likewise, |−7| = 7 because −7 is also seven units from zero.

Why Absolute Value Is Useful

Absolute value is used in distance calculations, equations, inequalities, error measurements, and many areas of mathematics where only magnitude matters.