Graph Using a Table of Values y=|x|

$y = | x |$

Step 1

Substitute $- 2$ for $x$ and find the result for $y$ .

$y = | - 2 |$

Step 2

The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero. The distance between $- 2$ and $0$ is $2$ .

$y = 2$

Step 3

Substitute $- 1$ for $x$ and find the result for $y$ .

$y = | - 1 |$

Step 4

The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero. The distance between $- 1$ and $0$ is $1$ .

$y = 1$

Step 5

Substitute $0$ for $x$ and find the result for $y$ .

$y = | 0 |$

Step 6

The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero. The distance between $0$ and $0$ is $0$ .

$y = 0$

Step 7

Substitute $1$ for $x$ and find the result for $y$ .

$y = | 1 |$

Step 8

The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero. The distance between $0$ and $1$ is $1$ .

$y = 1$

Step 9

Substitute $2$ for $x$ and find the result for $y$ .

$y = | 2 |$

Step 10

The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero. The distance between $0$ and $2$ is $2$ .

$y = 2$

Step 11

This is a table of possible values to use when graphing the equation.

$\begin{array}{c} x & y \\ - 2 & 2 \\ - 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 1 \\ 2 & 2 \end{array}$

Step 12