Part 1/5:

Understanding Absolute Values: A Comprehensive Guide

Absolute values can often be a source of confusion in mathematics, but once broken down, the concept becomes much clearer. In this article, we will define absolute values, explore their properties, and illustrate their graphical representations.

What is Absolute Value?

The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line, essentially stripping away any negative sign. In simple terms, the absolute value of a number is always non-negative.

Mathematically, if we denote the absolute value of ( x ) as ( |x| ), we define it as:

[

|x| =

\begin{cases}

x & \text{if } x \geq 0 \

-x & \text{if } x < 0

\end{cases}

]