[latex]-a[/latex] means the opposite of the number [latex]a[/latex]
The notation [latex]-a[/latex] is read the opposite of [latex]a[/latex].
Absolute Value Notation
The absolute value of a number [latex]n[/latex] is written as [latex]|n|[/latex] .
[latex]|n|\ge 0[/latex] for all numbers.
Glossary
absolute value
The absolute value of a number is its distance from 0 on the number line.
integers
Integers are counting numbers, their opposites, and zero … [latex]–3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, 3\dots[/latex]
negative number
A negative number is less than zero.
opposites
The opposite of a number is the number that is the same distance from zero on the number line, but on the opposite side of zero.
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Prealgebra. Provided by: OpenStax. License: CC BY: Attribution. License Terms: Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/caa57dab-41c7-455e-bd6f-f443cda5519c@9.757