The absolute value gives always a positive number.
If a is negative, then a|x| is negative and |ax| is positive.
Therefore, the graph of y=a|x| won't be the same as the graph of y=|ax|.
Another way to see it, is by using the property:
[tex]\mleft|ax\mright|=\mleft|a\mright|\cdot\mleft|x\mright|[/tex]
Since a is negative, then |a| = -a. So, |ax| = -a|x|, which is clearly different from a|x|.
