Absolute value turns any number positive by dropping its sign.
About this calculator
Absolute value turns any number positive by dropping its sign. |−7| = 7 and |7| = 7. On a number line, |x| is how far x sits from zero.
Absolute difference |a − b| measures the gap between two values without caring which is larger. |10 − 3| = |3 − 10| = 7. Temperature swings, score margins, and error bounds all use this idea.
Switch modes to pick single-number abs or two-number difference. For distance on a coordinate plane try [[distance]] or [[pythagorean]]. For inequalities involving |x| see [[linear-equation]].
Common uses
- Find |−7| for algebra homework
- Measure temperature change ignoring direction
- Compare two test scores by absolute gap
- Check error magnitude in lab measurements
- Evaluate piecewise expressions with abs bars
Frequently asked questions
What is the absolute value of −7?
|−7| = 7. The negative sign drops; the magnitude stays 7 units from zero.
What is the absolute difference between 10 and 3?
|10 − 3| = 7. Order does not matter: |3 − 10| is also 7.
Can absolute value be negative?
No. |x| is always zero or positive. |0| = 0 is the only case that equals zero.
How is |x| used in distance?
On a line, |x − y| is the distance between x and y. On a plane, combine with the Pythagorean theorem.