ABS
The ABS function returns the absolute value of a number, disregarding any negative or positive sign. It converts the number to its positive equivalent. Use this function when only the magnitude of a value is needed.
Example explanation
Cell D2 to D5 use the ABS function to calculate the absolute value of the difference between the predicted and actual sales for each product.
Syntax 🔗
=ABS(number)
number | The numerical value for which the absolute value is to be determined. |
About ABS 🔗
Use the ABS function to focus on a number's magnitude without considering its sign. The ABS function returns the positive version of any given number, removing any negative sign. This is useful in mathematical and statistical operations where only the numerical distance is important. The ABS function helps you easily extract positive values, making analytical processes straightforward. It is useful in various scenarios where absolute values are more important than the sign of the numbers.
Examples 🔗
If cell A1 contains the value -50, then the formula =ABS(A1) returns 50, providing the positive version of -50.
Suppose cell B2 holds the value 75.89. The formula =ABS(B2) yields 75.89, as the absolute value of a positive number remains the same.
Notes 🔗
The ABS function focuses solely on the numerical value and ignores any units or labels. It will return an error if the number argument is not a valid numerical value.
Questions 🔗
The ABS function ignores the negative or positive sign of a number and returns its positive equivalent. For positive numbers, it simply returns the number as is.
Can the ABS function be applied to non-numeric values?No, the ABS function treats non-numeric inputs as errors. It should only be used with numerical values to obtain their absolute equivalents.
In what scenarios is the ABS function particularly useful?The ABS function is especially handy in scenarios where the direction or sign of a value is irrelevant, and only the numerical magnitude holds significance. This includes calculations involving distances, differences, deviations, and other scenarios where the absolute value is pertinent.