2.2+Absolute+Value

Section 2.2 - Absolute Value

 * The Distance from Zero**

If you look at the numberline, you can count how many "spaces" a number is away from zero. I guess you can easily do it without counting. The number 34 is 34 spaces from zero. The same concept applies to negative numbers as well. Even though it is in the other direction, negative seven is still seven spaces from zero.


 * Absolute Value means how far a number is from zero -- in either direction. ** Because of this, the absolute value will always be a positive number.


 * Absolute Value Sign**

The symbol for absolute value is two bars, with a number inside the bars, like this: | 23 |. This means the absolute value of 23, which is 23. | - 4 | would be the absolute value of - 4, which is 4, or 4 spaces away from zero.

Absolute value signs are another form of parentheses, or grouping symbols, so according to the Order of Operations, they are done first. If they are nested with other parentheses, they are done from the inside out.If there is math to be done within the absolute value signs, it is done before calculating the absolute value: | 6 - 8 | = 2 because you do 6 - 8, which is - 2, but then the absolute value of - 2 is 2, so the answer is 2.

Because absolute value is done before subtraction, a minus sign outside of the absolute value signs means the answer will be negative.

- | 6 | = - 6 - | - 6 | = - 6
 * 6 | = 6
 * - 6 | = 6


 * Practice Problems for this Section **

**Where to from here?**
2.1 Integers 2.2 Absolute Value 2.3 Adding Integers 2.4 Subtracting Integers 2.5 Multiplying Integers 2.6 Dividing Integers 2.7 Exponents and Roots Chapter Two Summary Chapter Two Homework