What does the absolute value of a number indicate?

The absolute value of a number is defined as its distance from zero on the number line. This means it measures how far a number is from zero, regardless of its direction (positive or negative). For instance, both -3 and 3 are three units away from zero, so their absolute values are both 3. This concept is fundamental in mathematics, especially in understanding how numbers relate to each other on the number line. By definition, the absolute value is always a non-negative number, which further emphasizes that it represents distance rather than the number itself or any of its other attributes.