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The absolute value of a number answers this question: How far away is the number from 0 on the number line? For example, the number 5 is exactly 5 units away from 0, so the absolute value of 5 equals 5. Mathematically, this is written using the symbol for absolute value: |5| = 5. To find the absolute value of −5, look at the number line above: −5 is also exactly 5 units away from 0. Thus, the absolute value of −5 equals 5, or, in mathematical symbols, |−5| = 5. Notice that absolute value is always positive, because it disregards the direction (positive or negative) from which the number approaches 0 on the number line. When you interpret a number in an absolute value sign, just think: Absolutely positive! (Except, of course, for 0, because |0| = 0, which is the smallest possible absolute value.)
On the number line shown, note that 5 and −5 are the same distance from 0, which is located halfway between them. In general, if two numbers are opposites of each other, then they have the same absolute value, and 0 is halfway between. If x = −y, then you have either
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(You cannot tell which variable is positive without more information.)