The absolute value is the distance between a number and zero, and it is always positive. The distance between -8 and 0 is 8. Then, once the absolute value is found, the actual answer needs to be found by multiplying 8 by (-1). Usually the number in front of an absolute value is 1; however, this absolute value has a negative in front of it, which causes the 1 to become a -1. Thus, causing the final answer to be -8.
