The elevation of Death Valley-282 feet. The Mississippi River in Illinois has an elevation of 279 feet. Which is closer to sea level?

The absolute value of a number tells us how far away from 0 that number is ...

death valley : | - 282 | = 282 ... so this is 282 spaces from 0

mississippi river : | 279 | = 279 ... so this is 279 spaces from 0

so the mississippi river is closer to 0 then death valley

Sea Level is considered 0

so the lower the number the closer to 0 it is,

so the Mississippi river is closer.