Step 1 of 4 · Distance from zero
Absolute value = distance from zero on the number line. Always ≥ 0.
Tap any number to measure its distance from 0.
|3|
|−3|
|5|
|−5|
|7|
|−7|
|0|
|−8|
Step 2 of 4 · |−7| = ?
|−7|
Locate −7 on the number line. Measure its distance from 0.
Distance from 0 to −7 is 7.
So |−7| = 7. The bars drop the sign — distance is always positive.
Step 3 of 4 · Signs outside the bars STAY
−|−7|
The bars only kill signs inside them. An outside negative survives.
−
|−7|
→
−
7
=
−7
Step 1: handle the bars first → |−7| = 7
Step 2: the leading − stays → −(7) = −7
Order matters: |...| first, then any sign outside.
|−5| = 5 · −|5| = −5 · −|−5| = −5
Step 4 of 4 · Your turn
|−15|
Pick the value.
🏆
Nice work!
You stripped the bars.