Evaluate each expression. |-10|

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the absolute value symbol in the expression. The absolute value of a number is denoted by two vertical bars around the number, like this: |x|.
2. Understand the definition of absolute value. The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line, regardless of direction. Therefore, it is always a non-negative number.
3. Apply the definition to the given number. Since the number inside the absolute value symbol is -10, you need to find the distance of -10 from zero on the number line.
4. Calculate the distance. The distance of any number from zero is the positive version of that number, so the distance of -10 from zero is 10.
5. Conclude that the absolute value of -10 is 10. Thus, |-10| equals 10.

Key Concepts

Absolute Value

The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line, regardless of direction. It is denoted by two vertical bars surrounding the number, such as |x|. For example, |5| equals 5, and |-5| also equals 5, indicating that both numbers are 5 units away from zero.

Properties of Absolute Value

Absolute value has specific properties that are useful in mathematical operations. One key property is that |a| = a if a is non-negative, and |a| = -a if a is negative. This means that the absolute value function always returns a non-negative result, which is crucial for evaluating expressions involving negative numbers.

Evaluating Expressions

Evaluating an expression involves substituting values into the expression and simplifying it to find a numerical result. In the case of absolute value, this means determining the distance from zero for the given number. For |-10|, you would recognize that it is the distance of -10 from zero, which is 10.