|
Number
|
Absolute
Value
|
|||||
|
10
|
10
|
=ABS(C4)
|
||||
|
-10
|
10
|
=ABS(C5)
|
||||
|
1.25
|
1.25
|
=ABS(C6)
|
||||
|
-1.25
|
1.25
|
=ABS(C7)
|
||||
|
What Does it Do ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This function calculates the value
of a number, irrespective of whether it is positive or negative.
|
||||||
|
Syntax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
=ABS(CellAddress or Number)
|
||||||
|
Formatting
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The result will be shown as a
number, no special formatting is needed.
|
||||||
|
Example
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table was used by a
company testing a machine which cuts timber.
|
||||||
|
The machine needs to cut timber to
an exact length.
|
||||||
|
Three pieces of timber were cut
and then measured.
|
||||||
|
In calculating the difference
between the Required Length and the Actual Length it does
|
||||||
|
not matter if the wood was cut too
long or short, the measurement needs to be expressed as
|
||||||
|
an absolute value.
|
||||||
|
Table 1 shows the original
calculations.
|
||||||
|
The Difference for Test 3 is shown
as negative, which has a knock on effect
|
||||||
|
when the Error Percentage is
calculated.
|
||||||
|
Whether the wood was too long or
short, the percentage should still be expressed
|
||||||
|
as an absolute value.
|
||||||
|
Table 1
|
||||||
|
Test
Cut |
Required
Length |
Actual
Length |
Difference
|
Error
Percentage |
||
|
Test
1
|
120
|
120
|
0
|
0%
|
||
|
Test
2
|
120
|
90
|
30
|
25%
|
||
|
Test
3
|
120
|
150
|
-30
|
-25%
|
||
|
=D36-E36
|
||||||
|
Table 2 shows the same data but
using the =ABS() function to correct the calculations.
|
||||||
|
Table 2
|
||||||
|
Test
Cut |
Required
Length |
Actual
Length |
Difference
|
Error
Percentage |
||
|
Test
1
|
120
|
120
|
0
|
0%
|
||
|
Test
2
|
120
|
90
|
30
|
25%
|
||
|
Test
3
|
120
|
150
|
30
|
25%
|
||
|
=ABS(D45-E45)
|
||||||