What will the absolute value of any number always be?

The absolute value of any number is defined as its distance from zero on the number line, without regard to direction. This means that for any real number, whether it is positive, negative, or zero, the absolute value is always a non-negative quantity. Therefore, the absolute value will be either a positive number (for any positive or negative input) or zero (in the case of the number zero itself). This fundamental principle holds true across all real numbers, making the correct choice that the absolute value will always be a positive number or zero.

The other options do not accurately represent the properties of absolute value. For instance, negative numbers are excluded because absolute values cannot be negative; whole numbers do not encompass all possible values (like fractions) that may relate to absolute values; and fractional numbers may be positive but do not include zero. Thus, focusing on the universally applicable nature of absolute values leads us to the conclusion that they are indeed always a positive number or zero.