Evaluate the Absolute Value Expression: |5| = ?

Q: Why does |5| equal 5 and not -5?

Absolute value measures distance, which is always positive or zero. Since 5 is already positive and 5 units away from zero, $ |5| = 5 $.

Q: What's the difference between |5| and |-5|?

Both equal 5! The number 5 is 5 units from zero, and -5 is also 5 units from zero. Distance doesn't depend on direction, so $ |5| = |-5| = 5 $.

Q: How do I remember what absolute value means?

Think of it as "How far am I from home?" If home is zero and you're at position 5, you're 5 steps away. Direction doesn't matter for distance!

Q: Can absolute value ever be negative?

Never! Absolute value represents distance, and distance is always zero or positive. Even $ |-100| = 100 $, which is positive.

Absolute Value with Positive Integers

$\left|5\right|=$

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Step-by-step written solution

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Understand the problem

$\left|5\right|=$

Step-by-step solution

The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line, without considering its direction. To find the absolute value of $5$ , consider the distance of $5$ from zero, which is just $5$ . Therefore, $\left|5\right| = 5$ .

Final Answer

$5$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Definition: Absolute value measures distance from zero on number line
Technique: For positive numbers like 5, absolute value equals the number itself
Check: Count units from zero to 5 on number line = 5 units ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Confusing absolute value with negative signs
Don't think |5| = -5 because of the vertical bars! Absolute value is always non-negative (zero or positive) regardless of what's inside. Always remember: absolute value gives the distance, which is never negative.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Determine the absolute value of the following number:

$\left|18\right|=$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why does |5| equal 5 and not -5?

Absolute value measures distance, which is always positive or zero. Since 5 is already positive and 5 units away from zero, $|5| = 5$ .

What's the difference between |5| and |-5|?

Both equal 5! The number 5 is 5 units from zero, and -5 is also 5 units from zero. Distance doesn't depend on direction, so $|5| = |-5| = 5$ .

How do I remember what absolute value means?

Think of it as "How far am I from home?" If home is zero and you're at position 5, you're 5 steps away. Direction doesn't matter for distance!

Can absolute value ever be negative?

Never! Absolute value represents distance, and distance is always zero or positive. Even $|-100| = 100$ , which is positive.

What does the number line show for |5|?

On a number line, count the spaces from 0 to 5. You'll count 5 units to the right. That's exactly what $|5|$ measures!

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