The absolute value of a number is its distance from the origin of a number line, regardless of direction. So the absolute value of -3 is 3 and so is the absolute value of +3. We use two vertical bars to show the absolute value, so in mathematical symbols |-3| = 3
To find the absolute value of 7.6 - 11.8 we would use the ABS key, then 7.6 - 11.8 which goes inside the bars, then the right hand cursor control to take us outside the bar, then = which gives us the answer 4.2
Finding the absolute value is useful in all sorts of ways, for example if we want to find the difference between the value of two expressions without knowing which is the bigger, since |a - b| is the same as |b - a|.
