Final answer:
The absolute value of 9, denoted as [9], is 9, because it is 9 units away from zero on the number line. The correct answer to the student's question is A) [9] = 9.
Step-by-step explanation:
The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line, regardless of the direction. Therefore, the absolute value of 9, written as [9], is just 9 itself, since it is 9 units away from zero. The options presented are A) [9] = 9, B) [9] = -9, C) [9] = 0, and D) [9] = 81. The correct answer is A) [9] = 9.