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Glite Dictionary
absolute value

absolute value

2 3.9
How far a number is from zero and always zero or positive
  • noun
  • /ˈæbsəˌlut ˈvælju/
  • Specialized
translation icon : valor absoluto
  • The absolute value of a number is the distance between the number and zero on the number line.
  • absolute value difference
  • sum of the absolute values
  • calculating the absolute value

If you have an absolute value in your limits, you should try to plug in.

Examples

  • The absolute value of -5 is 5, as it represents the distance from zero on the number line.

  • Component loading greater than 0.30 in absolute value is considered significant.

    Academic text (2003)

  • So red is the lowest, meaning the highest absolute value, and light green has the least change.

  • We're going to calculate the average absolute value from where they started.

  • The only thing that is different is the absolute value of the pitch frequencies.

    Academic text (1997)

  • The effect of HPI is larger in absolute value for girls than for boys.

    Academic text (2017)

  • In any math physics interpretation, the absolute value of temperature is all that matters.

    Blog text (10)

  • In our analysis, mean deviations were based on the absolute value of the difference between scores.

    Academic text (1996)

  • ALGORITHM: The absolute value of the difference in the means between two samples is computed.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Self-evaluation accuracy was calculated using the absolute value of the difference between student self-evaluation and performance scores.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

numerical value
vsabsolute value
1 3.4

A number that shows its size without a plus or minus sign

is the nonnegative quantity of a number ignoring its sign

Surface Forms

absolute value singular
absolute values plural

Morphology

absolute + value

The mathematical sense 'numerical magnitude without regard to sign' is a specialized, domain-specific meaning that does not follow directly from the general senses of 'absolute' (complete/perfect) and 'value' (worth). Although the phrase is adjective + noun, the shift to a technical, non-negative magnitude is not predictable for a B1 learner who only knows the common meanings of the parts, so it would be opaque without prior exposure.

Etymology

Absolute value is the image of a number on a number line: the absolute (meaning 'no sign') value is simply how far the point is from zero. So it means the number's distance from zero, always 'not negative'.