Distance from Zero

The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line. A distance has no sign, so $\left|3\right| = 3$ and $\left|-3\right| = 3$. Both 3 and -3 are three steps from zero. A distance is never negative, so an absolute value is never negative.

3 and -3 are both three steps from 0: |3| = |-3| = 3

When there is an expression inside the absolute value bars, work it out first: $\left|2-7\right| = \left|-5\right| = 5$. The bars keep the size of the number and drop its sign. Every positive number is the absolute value of two numbers, one positive and one negative. Only zero has an absolute value of zero.