abs() function without roots?

Can you define an absolute value abs(x) function as an algebraic expresion without the use of roots (or fractional exponents)?  For instance, can you come up with another function other than abs(x)=(sqrt(x))^2?

>>7

Piecewise functions are algebraic, dumbass. or did you miss that part of Algebra II? Or how about Algebraic Structures? Did you miss it there, too?