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ABS(IEXP) (INTEGER)
Function
Returns the absolute value of an integer expression.
Syntax
ABS(iexp)
iexp = Any integer expression.
Return Type & Value
INTEGER
If iexp is greater than or equal to 0, this function returns
iexp. Otherwise this function returns -iexp.
Remarks
The most significant use of the absolute value function is to determine
the difference between two values. For example, you may need to know in
a program the difference between 8 and 13. Normal subtraction would
yield a result of -5 (8-13).
You don't need the mathematical difference though, you need the logical
difference between the two integers. The absolute value function will
return that. In other words, while 8-13 is -5, ABS(8-13) is 5, which may
be a more desirable result in many cases.
Also, it is easier to code and understand than this:
INTEGER D
LET D = 8-13
IF (D < 0) LET D = -D
Examples
INTEGER num
' Loop while num is < 6 or num > 10
' ... ABS(4-8)=4 ABS( 5-8)=3 ABS( 6-8)=2 ABS( 7-8)=1
' ABS(9-8)=1 ABS(10-8)=2 ABS(11-8)=3 ABS(12-8)=4 ...
WHILE (ABS(num-8) > 2) DO
PRINTLN "Enter a number from 6 to 10:"
INPUT "Number",num
ENDWHILE
INTEGER i, r
' Generate 10 random numbers from -5 to 5
' Print each number and it's absolute value
FOR i = 1 TO 10
LET r = RANDOM(10)-5
PRINTLN "The absolute value of ",r," is ",ABS(r)
NEXT
See Also:
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