Explanation:
The equation |a| = 5 represents the set of all real numbers whose absolute value is equal to 5. Geometrically, this corresponds to two points in the number line located 5 units away from the origin in opposite directions.
To plot these numbers, we can mark the two points on a number line. One point would be located at -5, and the other at +5. These points are equidistant from the origin, and represent the two solutions to the equation |a|=5.
Here is a sketch of the number line with the two points plotted:
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
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* *
The "*" symbols represent the two points that satisfy the equation |a| = 5.