Answer
The absolute value of a real number a, denoted by $|a|$, is the distance from 0 to a on a number line.
The absolute value is never negative, because it describes a distance.
(for examples, please see step-by-step)
Work Step by Step
The absolute value of a real number a, denoted by $|a|$, is the distance from 0 to a on a number line.
The absolute value is never negative, because it describes a distance.
For example, the number $-7$ is located 7 units to the left of zero on the number line.
Its distance from zero is 7, therefore $\quad|-7|=7.$
Also, the number $7 $ is located 7 units to the right of zero on the number line.
Its distance from zero is 7, therefore $\quad|7|=7.$
