Question

A number line going from negative 20 to positive 20.

What is the absolute value of –20?

Use the number line to answer the question.
–20
0
20
40

Answer 1

The answer is 20.

Answer 2

20

Explanation:

Absolute value is the distance from zero. Absolute value is always positive.

| -20 | is positive. It is 20 units from 0. So it is 20.

| -20 | = 20

(Be careful, absolute value doesn't just flip the sign to the opposite.

| 20 | = 20 also because the distance from 0 to 20 is also 20.)