Question

The absolute value of a number can be denoted by which of the following?

• A. The value of a number
• B. The opposite of a number
• C. The distance of a number from zero
• D. The multiplicative inverse of a number

Answer 1

The correct option is C The distance of a number from zero

$\underset{–}{\text{Absolute value of a number}}:$

• The value which refers to the distance of a number from $‘‘0"$ on the number line is called absolute value.
• The absolute value of any integer, whether positive, negative or zero, will always be a positive integer or zero, regardless of which sign it has.
• Absolute value is represented by two vertical lines $|a|$, which defines the magnitude/modulus of any integer $‘‘a"$.

For example: $5$ is the absolute value for both $5$ and $-5.$

$\therefore |-5|=|+5|=5$

The below diagram depicts the distance representation of absolute values of $5$ and $-5$ on the number line.

$\underset{–}{\text{Notes}}:$

• Absolute value of a positive number is the number itself.
• Absolute value of zero is zero.
• Absolute value of a negative number is $(-1\times \text{negative number})$.