The absolute value of any number is never negative. Absolute value represents distance, and negative distance is not possible (it doesn't make any sense to have a negative distance). Specifically, it is the distance from the given number to 0 on the number line.
The result of an absolute value is either 0 or positive.
Examples:
| -22 | = 22
| -1.7 | = 1.7
| 35 | = 35
The vertical bars surrounding the numbers are absolute value bars