absolute value

absolute value, magnitude of a number or other mathematical expression disregarding its sign; thus, the absolute value is positive, whether the original expression is positive or negative. In symbols, if |a| denotes the absolute value of a number a, then |a| = a for a > 0 and |a| = -a for a < 0. For example, |7|= 7 since 7 > 0 and |-7| = -(-7), or |-7| = 7, since -7 < 0.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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