Question

If the absolute value of a nonzero real number is equal to the opposite of the number, the number is __________.

positive
negative
zero
irrational

Answer 1

Answer: Choice B) Negative

For example, the absolute value of -5 is +5 or just 5. This means the distance from -5 to 0 on the number line is 5 units. We can write it as |-5| = 5.

The general rule being used is
|x| = -1*x = -x
only if x < 0; otherwise |x| = x