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.

Grade 11th Grade · Math · 45 min· 6.ns.c.8 Illustrative Mathematics

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

JoAnn's School · 6:30

6th Grade Math 14.1b, Finding Distances in the Coordinate Plane Using Absolute Values

3 key concepts

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.

9 questions · Multiple choice & Short answer

Quick comprehension check

“What is the distance between the points (-2, 5) and (6, 5)? Show your work using absolute value.”

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