Absolute Value Calculator
Quickly find the magnitude of any number. The absolute value removes the negative sign, giving you the number's distance from zero.
Definition:
|x| = x if x ≥ 0
|x| = -x if x < 0
| 5 | = 5 | -5 | = 5 | -12.34 | = 12.34
What is absolute value?
The absolute value of a real number is its distance from zero on a number line, regardless of its direction (positive or negative). It is written as |x|.
Why is | -5 | equal to 5?
Absolute value measures distance, and distance cannot be negative. -5 is 5 units away from zero, so its absolute value is 5.
Is absolute value always positive?
Almost! The absolute value of any number (except zero) is always positive. The absolute value of zero is zero, which is neither positive nor negative.
How do you write absolute value in a formula?
We use two vertical bars: |x|. For example, | -10 | = 10.
🔗 Related Calculators
📐 Formula
Definition:
|x| = x if x ≥ 0
|x| = -x if x < 0
📝 Example Calculation
| 5 | = 5 | -5 | = 5 | -12.34 | = 12.34
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is absolute value?▼
The absolute value of a real number is its distance from zero on a number line, regardless of its direction (positive or negative). It is written as |x|.
Why is | -5 | equal to 5?▼
Absolute value measures distance, and distance cannot be negative. -5 is 5 units away from zero, so its absolute value is 5.
Is absolute value always positive?▼
Almost! The absolute value of any number (except zero) is always positive. The absolute value of zero is zero, which is neither positive nor negative.
How do you write absolute value in a formula?▼
We use two vertical bars: |x|. For example, | -10 | = 10.