Final answer:
The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on a number line, always resulting in a non-negative number.
Step-by-step explanation:
The absolute value of a number is the distance from the number to zero on a number line. This means that the absolute value is always a non-negative number, regardless of whether the original number is positive or negative. For instance, the absolute value of both -5 and 5 is 5 because each is 5 units away from zero on the number line. This concept is important in understanding numerical distance and is key in solving many algebraic equations.