[tex]distance = |x-y| \\ where \: x \: and \: y \: are \: any \: two \: numbers[/tex]
It doesn't matter which number you put first as long as you don't forget your absolute value.
If you don't want to put the absolute value, the equation becomes:
[tex]distance = x-y \\ where \: x \: and \: y \: are \: any \: two \: numbers \\ under \: condition \: that \: x > y[/tex]
[tex]distance = 16 - ( - 8) = 16 + 8 = 24 \\ distance = |16-(-8)|=|16+8|=|24|=24 \\ or \\distance = | - 8-(16)|=| - 8 - 16|=| - 24|=24[/tex]
