Why does negative acceleration absolute value affect motion?

[Machinehead73]

Absolute value of acceleration Help!

Homework Statement

I am getting a value of -1.94 m/s^2 for my acceleraton. An it wants to know the absolute value of acceleration what do I put down. It also state that the plus or minus is just to indicate direction. But the way the problems is computed the mass will not move.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Doc Al]

Absolute value means the magnitude (numerical value) without the sign.