Calculate the absolute value of any number. Simply enter the number into the calculator and it will evaluate the absolute value.

Absolute Value Formula

The following formula is used to calculate an absolute value.

X = Y * -1 (if Y is negative)

X = Y * 1 (if Y is positive)

What is the absolute value?

The absolute value of a number or equation is another word for the magnitude of a value. Sometimes numbers are positive or negative but have the same magnitude. Let’s look at an example. Let’s say you have a toy car positioned on a table. Let’s say the car moves 10 FT forward. This number would be considered positive. the absolute value would be 10. Now let’s same that same car moves 10 FT backward. Sometimes this movement would be represented as -10FT forward. The absolute value of that number is 10. So even though the car traveled in opposite directs, the magnitude of that distance is still the same.

How to calculate an absolute value

The following example is a step-by-step guide to calculate the absolute value of any number.

  1. The first step and most important step is to determine whether the number is positive or negative. To do this you simply look at the front of the number. If there is nothing there the number is positive. If there is a minus sign in front the number is negative.
  2. The second and last step is to multiply the number by either 1 or -1. If the number is positive simply multiply it by 1 for your absolute value. If the number is negative multiply it by -1 for your absolute value.

FAQ

What is an absolute value?

An absolute value is the positive value of any number. For example, the absolute value of -1 is 1.