Which of the following statements is true about absolute value?

Absolute value is defined as the distance of a number from zero on the number line, regardless of direction. This definition is crucial in understanding why the statement that it always represents a positive quantity is true. The absolute value of a number is expressed as |x|, where x can be any real number.

When determining the absolute value, negative numbers become positive because distance cannot be negative; for example, the absolute value of -3 is 3, indicating that -3 is three units away from zero. Hence, the output of the absolute value function is always non-negative.

Additionally, the context in which absolute value is applied extends beyond whole numbers, as it can be used with integers, rational numbers, and even irrational numbers. Therefore, it’s confirmed that absolute value always yields a non-negative result, reinforcing that it represents a positive quantity or zero but never a negative value.