graphing absolute value

[smilyfacebkwrm]

I'm in Algebra II but this seems more related to Geometry... so, I'm not quite sure where to post it.

Anyway, I just don't get graphing absolute values. If abs(x) is always possitive then why does the graph make that v shape?

Thanks!

 

[stapel]

Would the y-value be positive if the graph went below the x-axis?

Eliz.