Integers · Absolute value · 3.1

Distance from zero.

The absolute value of a number is its distance from 0 on the number line. Distance is never negative, so |−6| = 6 and |6| = 6.

01 / THE IDEA

See it work.

On the number line

Where does it sit?

-7-6-5-4-3-2-101-6

Watch the method

Distance from zero

|−6| = 6 — six steps from 0.

1 / 1
∣−6∣\left|-6\right|
1

Distance from zero

Absolute value is how far the number is from 0 — never negative.

∣−6∣=6\left|-6\right| = 6
02 / YOUR TURN

Practice until it feels automatic.

Your turn

Work it out.

Type a whole number — negatives allowed, e.g. -7.

streak 0
best 0
… =
— / WHY IT WORKS

The idea underneath.

How far from 0

|n| measures distance, ignoring direction. Bars mean “how far from zero”.

Why it works

−6 is six steps from 0, so |−6| = 6.

03 / WORKED EXAMPLES

From easy to tricky.

EX 1easy

Find |-13|.

1

Distance from zero

Absolute value is how far the number is from 0 — never negative. |-13| = 13

EX 2medium

Find |-8|.

1

Distance from zero

Absolute value is how far the number is from 0 — never negative. |-8| = 8

EX 3hard

Find |-8|.

1

Distance from zero

Absolute value is how far the number is from 0 — never negative. |-8| = 8

04 / COMMON TRAPS

Where students slip.

Trap

Writing |−6| = −6.

Fix

Distance is never negative.

Trap

Thinking |n| changes the number’s value in an expression.

Fix

It only reports the distance.

05 / QUIZ

Test yourself.

The Test

12 problems across three tiers. Auto-graded on submit. Hints and a full walkthrough on every question. Your work is saved on this device — sign in to keep it across devices.

0/12Answered
How to answerType just the value. Formatting won't trip you up — we ignore spaces, capital letters, commas, and subscript style, so t₁ = 5, d = 3 and t1=5,d=3 both count. For a list of numbers, separate them with commas (e.g. 3, 10, 17).
Core

Core (4)

C1

Find |-13|.

Need a hint?
  • Drop the sign — keep the size.
  • Distance is always positive.
C2

Find |16|.

Need a hint?
  • Drop the sign — keep the size.
  • Distance is always positive.
C3

Find |11|.

Need a hint?
  • Drop the sign — keep the size.
  • Distance is always positive.
C4

Find |-11|.

Need a hint?
  • Drop the sign — keep the size.
  • Distance is always positive.
Apply

Apply (4)

A1

Find |-8|.

Need a hint?
  • Drop the sign — keep the size.
  • Distance is always positive.
A2

Find |7|.

Need a hint?
  • Drop the sign — keep the size.
  • Distance is always positive.
A3

Find |5|.

Need a hint?
  • Drop the sign — keep the size.
  • Distance is always positive.
A4

Find |-7|.

Need a hint?
  • Drop the sign — keep the size.
  • Distance is always positive.
Extension

Extension (4)

E1

Find |-8|.

Need a hint?
  • Drop the sign — keep the size.
  • Distance is always positive.
E2

Find |2|.

Need a hint?
  • Drop the sign — keep the size.
  • Distance is always positive.
E3

Find |14|.

Need a hint?
  • Drop the sign — keep the size.
  • Distance is always positive.
E4

Find |-8|.

Need a hint?
  • Drop the sign — keep the size.
  • Distance is always positive.