The Absolute (in mathematics)

In mathematics, the absolute value of a number indicates its distance from zero on the number line, regardless of direction. It is always a non-negative number. For example, the absolute value of both 5 and -5 is 5, because both are five units away from zero. We denote the absolute value of a number \( x \) as \( |x| \). It’s useful for measuring size or magnitude without considering whether a number is positive or negative, making it essential in various calculations and problem-solving scenarios.