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Mathematics · Glossary

What is Absolute value?

Definition 1.10 High School Mathematics · Chapter 1 — Numbers and Sets of Numbers

The absolute value of a real number xx is

∣x∣={xif x≥0,−xif x<0.\abs{x} = \begin{cases} x & \text{if } x \geq 0, \\ -x & \text{if } x < 0. \end{cases}

For instance ∣7∣=7\abs{7} = 7 and ∣−4∣=4\abs{-4} = 4. In every case ∣x∣≥0\abs{x} \geq 0.

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