Absolute value is an important math concept to understand. To represent the absolute value of a number, we use a vertical bar on either side of the number. Absolute value means "distance from zero" on a number line. Let's try an example to understand how absolute value works.
What is the absolute value of 4 and -4?
To find the absolute value of 4, we know that 4 is 4 units from zero on a number line. Therefore, the absolute value of 4 is 4.
For the absolute value of -4, we know that -4 is also 4 units from zero on the number line. Therefore, the absolute value of -4 is also 4.
Another way that I like to think about absolute value is no matter what number you have inside the absolute value, the result will always be positive. In other words, the absolute value of any number is the positive version of that number.