Unlock the Power of Absolute Values

What Does the abs() Function Do?

The abs() function returns the absolute value of a given number, which is the distance of that number from zero. Additionally, it works with complex numbers, returning their magnitude.

The Syntax and Parameters

The abs() function takes a single argument, num, which can be an integer, floating-point number, or complex number. The syntax is straightforward:

abs(num)

What to Expect: The Return Values

The abs() function returns the absolute value of the given number, which depends on its type:

• Integers: The integer absolute value is returned.
• Floating-point numbers: The floating absolute value is returned.
• Complex numbers: The magnitude of the number is returned.

Putting it into Practice

Let’s see the abs() function in action with some examples:

Example 1: Get the Absolute Value of a Number

num = -5
result = abs(num)
print(result)  # Output: 5

Example 2: Get the Magnitude of a Complex Number

num = 3 + 4j
result = abs(num)
print(result)  # Output: 5.0

Taking it Further

Want to learn more about working with absolute values in popular libraries? Check out our articles on Pandas abs() and NumPy absolute() for more examples and insights!