Formula
Absolute value is the number without its sign:
Absolute value = |number|
A positive number stays the same. Zero stays zero.
Assumptions
- One number is entered.
- The result is zero or positive.
Worked example
The absolute value of -12.5 is 12.5.
Input definitions
- Number
- Any value from -1,000,000,000 to 1,000,000,000.
Limitations
Results are rounded for display. This is a classroom calculation, not a measurement from a lab or a financial filing.
Questions
What happens to a positive number?
It is unchanged.
Is this the same as a square root of a square?
For ordinary numbers, yes. This page simply drops the sign.