Math.
1. the magnitude of a quantity, irrespective of sign; the distance of a quantity from zero. The absolute value of a number is symbolized by two vertical lines, as |3| or |-3| is 3.
2. the square root of the sum of the squares of the real and imaginary parts of a given complex number, as |a + b i | is equal to the square root of a 2 + b 2 . Also called modulus .
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