Question

What is the difference between the absolute value of –8 and the absolute value of 6?

Answer 1

The absolute value of -8 is 8 while the absolute value of 6 is just 6. The difference between these two numbers is 2 (8-6=2).

Answer 2

The difference between these two absolute values is 2.

You can tell this by starting by taking both of their absolute values. The absolute value of 6 is just 6. It does not change. The absolute value of -8 is 8, because it forces it to become positive. Now to check the difference, we subtract the two.

8 - 6 = 2

And 2 is the answer.