Explain the difference between |-3| and -3

Question

anonymous · Answer

Well I know that |-3| can represent an absolute value graph if you have something for it to plot with, I.E an equation with it.
-3 just stays on the y-axis

hero · Answer

|-3| means distance between -3 and 0 along the number line. Distance is always positive and the distance between -3 and 0 is 3 units.

-3 is just -3.

anonymous · Answer

the difference is 6

anonymous · Answer

absolute value is the distance from zero. so it doesn't care if you are left of the 0 or to the right of the 0, absolute value just wants to know how far away and we always count in positive numbers.

hero · Answer

I think @Satellite73 interpreted it as as a math expression:

|-3| - (-3) = 3 + 3 = 6

solomonzelman · Answer

I-3I  is positive ljust like any  IxI ,     and  -3 is negative