Question

What is the absolute value of $ - 15$?

Answer 1

Hint: In order to find the absolute value of the given integer, first we should know exactly what the absolute number or value is. The Absolute value is the distance of the number from zero on a number line, either on the left or the right side. Create a number line, mark the point and find the distance.

Complete step by step solution:
We are given a number $ - 15$.
Represent this integer on the number line and we get:

We can see the distance between this number and the zero is $15$ unit, and according to the absolute value definition we know that it is the distance from zero and the integer.
Therefore, the absolute value of $ - 15$ is $15$, which can also be represented as $\left| { - 15} \right| = 15$.

Additional Information:
1) A number line is a representation of integers on a line at a common distance, where zero is placed in the middle and from zero, left side decreases with negative numbers till negative infinity and on the right side the positive number increases till positive infinity.
2) The absolute value of $x$ is written as $\left| x \right|$.

Note:
1) The negative and positive value of a number gives the same result, when we take out its absolute value. Because the distance between zero and $15$, and distance between zero and $ - 15$ is the same as the $15$ units.
2) The absolute value of a number is always positive as the distance can never be negative.
3) The absolute value of zero is zero with no changes.