What transformation does the expression |f(x)| indicate on the graph of f(x)?

The transformation indicated by the expression |f(x)| on the graph of f(x) is that it flips the negative parts of the graph upwards.

When you take the absolute value of a function, any point on the graph where the function's value is negative (meaning f(x) < 0) will be reflected upwards to become positive. For example, if f(x) = -3 at some x-value, then |f(x)| will make it 3 at the same x-value. This means all values of f(x) that were below the x-axis will now be above the x-axis, effectively creating a new graph where the original negative portions are flipped up into the first and second quadrants.

This transformation does not involve any shifting of the graph down or across the y-axis, nor does it change the shape of the graph through compression. It is solely about making the values positive, ensuring that the entire graph sits above or on the x-axis.