The absolute value means it MUST be a positive number. -1 is 1 unit away from 0 on the number line, so despite being negative it still has an absolute value of one.
| negative number | = positive number With the bars being absolute value signs.
The absolute value means the positive value of the number. So, if you take the absolute value of 1 is equals 1 still. If you take the absolute value of -1, the answer is also 1.
