What does the absolute value of a number represent on a number line?

The absolute value of a number represents its distance from zero on the number line.

If two points are on opposite sides of the x-axis, how do you find the distance between them using absolute values?

Add the absolute values of their y-coordinates.

Subtract the absolute values of their y-coordinates.

I can calculate the distance between two points on a coordinate plane using absolute value

1
The absolute value of a number is that number's distance from zero on a number line, and distances are always positive numbers.
2
When finding the distance between two points on opposite sides of the x-axis or y-axis, we add their absolute values, but if they are in the same quadrant, we subtract.
3
If two points have the same x-coordinates, we use the y-coordinates to find the distance, and if they have the same y-coordinates, we use the x-coordinates to find the distance.