The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line, regardless of direction. It is always non-negative. The absolute value of a number \( x \) is denoted as \( |x| \).
Key Properties
\( |x| = x \) if \( x \geq 0 \)
\( |x| = -x \) if \( x < 0 \)
\( |a - b| \) represents the distance between numbers \( a \) and \( b \) on the number line
