The "Absolute Value" of a real number is the "size" of that number. When plotted on the number line, it is the distance from 0. Thus the value is always positive or zero.

The absolute value of 5 is 5
The absolute value of -7 is 7
The absolute value of 0 is 0
The absolute value of -3/4 is 3/4

The absolute value is also used for complex numbers, although there it is more usually referred to as the "magnitude," and is an important part of the polar representation of a complex number.

The absolute value of a real number (or rational number, etc) can be computed by taking the (positive) square root of the square:

$|x|~=~\sqrt{x^2}$

We can also compute the Magnitude of a vector, which is its length.

ScalarProduct UnitVector	(none)			(none)
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MagnitudeOfAVector			(none)
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		⇌	You are here AbsoluteValue
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			ComplexNumber PolarRepresentationOfAComplexNumber RationalNumber RealNumber SquareRoot
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Absolute Value

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