Algebra I

Number lines are great tools for visualizing absolute value. Absolute value is how far a number is from zero. That's why absolute value is always positive. We symbolize absolute value by placing vertical bars, like this |-4|. With a number line, we can actually see what this looks like.

Now you understand that absolute value doesn't just mean stripping the negative sign off any number between the bars. It's the distance a number is from zero.