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# 6th Grade - Absolute Values

## Introduction

• The symbol for absolute value is .
• The distance of a number (irrespective of its sign, positive or negative) from 0 on a number line is its absolute value. For e.g. , the distance of -3 from 0 on a number line is 3, or , because the distance of 10 from 0 on a number line is 10.
• The absolute value of any number (+ve or -ve) is always positive.

## Examples

Examples with the negative sign outside the absolute value symbol:

## Cheat Sheet

• The absolute value of , because the distance of 0 from 0 is 0.
• Nested absolute value is possible, for e.g.$\left|\left|-3\right|+\left|-2\right|\right|$ . In such a case, work on the outside absolute value first, and then move inside. e.g.
• The expression inside the absolute value is possible, for e.g. .

## Blunder Area

• If the negative sign is outside the absolute value symbol, the answer/value will take the negative sign.

For example:

Because when we remove the absolute value symbol, the negative sign inside the symbol drops by itself, but the negative sign outside the symbol will remain there.