Explain the difference in the meaning between |-7|and -7. In your explanation, be sure to include various key words you learned within this unit.

The expression |-7| represents the absolute value of -7. Absolute value is the magnitude or size of a number without considering its sign. In this case, |-7| is equal to 7 because the absolute value of -7 is 7. The absolute value is always positive or zero.

On the other hand, -7 is a negative integer. The negative sign in front of 7 indicates that it is less than zero. The concept of negative numbers is essential in mathematics, as it allows for the representation of values that are less than zero or in the opposite direction.

In summary, the difference between |-7| and -7 is that |-7| refers to the absolute value of -7, which is always positive or zero, while -7 is a negative integer. Both expressions are used to represent numbers, but |-7| disregards the sign, while -7 explicitly states that the number is negative.