Answer:
-38
Step-by-step explanation:
You're dealing with absolute value. Those little | | (lines) are absolute value. Absolute value is simply the distance of a number on the number line from 0 without considering which direction from 0 the number lies. Absolute value of a number is always positive (never negative). In your case you have to find the absolute value of |-38|, which is 38. Expect your problem includes a negative on the outside of the absolute value making the number a negative again.
-|-38|=?
Get rid of lines and you're left with
-38
Hope this helps a bit,
Flips