Absolute values can be used when only the size of a number or expression is required. The absolute value of a number can be thought of as the distance that number is from zero on a number line. The function \(y = \left | f(x) \right |\) is similar to \(y = f(x)\), but all negative values of \(y = f(x)\) are made positive for \(y = \left | f(x) \right |\). On a graph, this corresponds to the negative portion of \(y = f(x)\) reflecting about the \(x\)-axis to produce \(y = \left | f(x) \right |\). In the next lesson, you will explore absolute values further by learning how to solve absolute value equations.