Skip to main content
SWStudyWalks Search

College Algebra / Unit 1   Alg 040 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Absolute Value

Captions available

The idea

The absolute value of a real number is its distance from zero on the number line, never negative: |−4| = 4 and |4| = 4.

In practice

Distance ignores direction: −4 and 4 sit four units from zero on opposite sides, so the bars return 4 for both.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

Builds on

  • Nothing. This is a starting point.

Unlocks

  • Nothing yet depends on this.

Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it  ·  Sources for College Algebra