Question

Explain the difference in meaning between |-3| and -3. In your explanation, be sure to include various key words you learned within this unit.

Answer 1

|-3|= absolute value while -3 itself would equal a real number

Answer 2

|-3| is equal to 3. The notation |-3| indicates the distance the number -3 is from zero, which in this case is 3 units. If you started at -3, you would have to walk 3 spaces to get to 0. Check out the attached image below to see a diagram of what I mean. This distance is along a number line.