What term describes the distance or number of units from 0?

The term that describes the distance or number of units from 0 is absolute value. In mathematical terms, the absolute value of a number represents its distance from zero on the number line, regardless of direction. For example, both -5 and 5 have an absolute value of 5, indicating that they are both 5 units away from 0. This concept is vital in various mathematical contexts, such as when dealing with distances, error calculations, and certain algebraic functions, ensuring that we consider only the magnitude of a value without regard for its sign.

The other terms—real numbers, integers, and rational numbers—refer to classifications of numbers rather than a measure of distance from zero. Real numbers encompass all numbers on the number line, including rational and irrational numbers. Integers specifically refer to whole numbers, both positive and negative, including zero. Rational numbers are those that can be expressed as a fraction of two integers. While these categories are important in mathematics, they do not specifically define the relationship between a number and zero as the absolute value does.