Wouldn't the absolute value of 0 be 0 right?
Yes, that's correct! The absolute value of 0 is indeed 0.
To understand why, let's start by defining what the absolute value function does. The absolute value of a number is a non-negative value that represents the distance of that number from zero on the number line. It tells us the magnitude or size of a number, irrespective of its sign.
In the case of the number 0, it is the exact midpoint on the number line. It is equidistant from positive and negative values. The distance from 0 to 0 is 0, so the absolute value of 0 is 0.
Now, let's see how to calculate the absolute value of 0 algebraically. The absolute value function is denoted by vertical bars or pipes, like |x|. For any given number x, if x is positive or zero, then the absolute value of x is x. Therefore, since 0 is non-negative, the absolute value of 0 is 0.
In summary, the absolute value of 0 is 0 because 0 is equidistant from both positive and negative values on the number line, and the absolute value function returns the magnitude or size of a number irrespective of its sign.