absulte value

THIS SYMBOL |x| denotes the absolute value of x, which is the number without its sign. |+3| = 3. |−3| = 3.

The following is the purely algebraic definition of |x|:
If x ≥ 0, then |x| = x; if x < 0, then |x| = −x.



Geometrically, |x| is the distance of x from 0.

Both 3 and −3 are a distance of 3 units from 0. |3| = |−3| = 3. Distance, in mathematics, is never negative.