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 © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights
reserved. More on absolute value from Infoplease: See more
Encyclopedia articles on: Mathematics