Answer:
There is a technical definition for absolute value, but you could easily never need it. (If you go as far as calculus, the technical definition might come up.) For now, you should view the absolute value of a number as being the distance, on the number line, of that number from zero.
To put numbers in order, place them from lowest (first) to highest (last). This is called "Ascending Order". Think of ascending a mountain. Example: Place 17, 5, 9 and 8 in ascending order.
