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| Absolute Value Absolute value makes a negative number positive. Positive numbers and 0 are left unchanged. The absolute value of x is written |x|. We write |–6| = 6 and |8| = 8. Formally, the absolute value of a number is the distance between the number and the origin. This is a much more powerful definition than the "makes a negative number positive" idea. It connects the notion of absolute value to the absolute value of a complex number and the magnitude of a vector. See also Absolute value rules | |
| this page updated 15-jul-23 Mathwords: Terms and Formulas from Algebra I to Calculus written, illustrated, and webmastered by Bruce Simmons Copyright © 2000 by Bruce Simmons All rights reserved | |