Aboslute value|10 blocks| + |3 blocks| + |-8 blocks| + |2 blocks| + |-7 blocks| + |4 blocks| + |-4 blocks| = ?

Absolute or modulus always gives a positive number.

For example, when I take absolute value of 4, I get

|4| = 4 and when I take absolute value of - 4, I get |-4| = - (-4) = 4.

Therefore, no matter what the sign of quantity is, absolute or modulus will always make it positive.

Therefore,

|10 blocks| + |3 blocks| + |-8 blocks| + |2 blocks| + |-7 blocks| + |4 blocks| + |-4 blocks| = 10 + 3 - (-8) + 2 - (-7) + 4 - (-4) = 10+3+8+2+7+4+4 = 38