Absolute value

A positive number can be designated by a numeral preceded by a plus sign or by a numeral without a sign. Every real number is either positive or negative. The two numerals +7 and -7 have different signs but the numerical part of each is 7.
This part of the numeral designates the absolute value of the number. The absolute value of a is denoted by | a | (a vertical bar on each side of the quantity).


Example

If we designate the absolute value of an algebraic expression such as

x+1

and x has a value such that x+1 is a negative number, then the absolute value of the expression will be negative of the expression . If x+1<0,

7∣=7

7∣=7


Video lesson

Simplify |7|+4+|3|