--- title: 3.9 Absolute Value description: "The **absolute value** of a number is its distance from zero on the number line, regardless of its direction. Absolute values are always **non-negative**. For example: - The absolute value of `10` is `10`. - The absolute value of `-10`…" url: "https://edcret.in/docs/python-programming/numeric-data-types-python/3-9-absolute-value/" updated: "2026-07-29" category: Python Programming / Numeric Data Types --- # 3.9 Absolute Value The **absolute value** of a number is its distance from zero on the number line, regardless of its direction. Absolute values are always **non-negative**. For example: - The absolute value of `10` is `10`. - The absolute value of `-10` is also `10`. - The absolute value of `0` is `0`. In Python, the built-in `abs()` function is used to find the absolute value of a number. --- ## Syntax ``` abs(number) ``` ### Parameters | Parameter | Description | | --- | --- | | `number` | An integer, floating-point number, or complex number. | ### Return Value Returns the absolute value of the given number. --- ## Example 1: Absolute Value of a Positive Integer **main.py** ``` number = 25 print(abs(number)) ``` ### Output ``` 25 ``` ### Explanation - `25` is already positive. - Therefore, its absolute value is `25`. --- ## Example 2: Absolute Value of a Negative Integer **main.py** ``` number = -25 print(abs(number)) ``` ### Output ``` 25 ``` ### Explanation - `-25` is 25 units away from zero. - The `abs()` function removes the negative sign. - The result is `25`. --- ## Example 3: Absolute Value of Zero **main.py** ``` number = 0 print(abs(number)) ``` ### Output ``` 0 ``` ### Explanation - Zero is neither positive nor negative. - Its distance from zero is zero. - Therefore, the absolute value is `0`. --- ## Example 4: Absolute Value of a Float **main.py** ``` temperature = -18.75 print(abs(temperature)) ``` ### Output ``` 18.75 ``` ### Explanation - The `abs()` function also works with floating-point numbers. - The negative sign is removed. - The decimal value remains unchanged. --- ## Example 5: Absolute Value in a Calculation **main.py** ``` difference = 75 - 100 print(difference) print(abs(difference)) ``` ### Output ``` -25 25 ``` ### Explanation - The subtraction produces `-25`. - The `abs()` function converts it to its absolute value. - This is useful when only the magnitude of a difference is important. --- ## Example 6: Absolute Value of a Complex Number **main.py** ``` number = 3 + 4j print(abs(number)) ``` ### Output ``` 5.0 ``` ### Explanation - For complex numbers, `abs()` returns the magnitude (also called the modulus). - For `3 + 4j`, the magnitude is `5.0`. - The returned value is a floating-point number. --- ## Example 7: User Input **main.py** ``` number = int(input("Enter an integer: ")) print(abs(number)) ``` ### Sample Input ``` -45 ``` ### Output ``` 45 ``` ### Explanation - The user enters a negative integer. - `int()` converts the input into an integer. - `abs()` returns its absolute value. --- ## Example 8: Comparing Two Numbers **main.py** ``` a = 12 b = 20 difference = abs(a - b) print(difference) ``` ### Output ``` 8 ``` ### Explanation - `a - b` evaluates to `-8`. - `abs()` converts it to `8`. - This gives the distance between the two numbers. --- ## Example 9: Absolute Value Inside an Expression **main.py** ``` result = abs(-15) + abs(-20) print(result) ``` ### Output ``` 35 ``` ### Explanation - `abs(-15)` returns `15`. - `abs(-20)` returns `20`. - Their sum is `35`. --- ## Example 10: Checking the Return Type **main.py** ``` print(type(abs(-50))) print(type(abs(-4.5))) ``` ### Output ``` ``` ### Explanation - The return type depends on the input. - An integer input returns an integer. - A floating-point input returns a floating-point value. --- # Common Mistakes ### 1. Assuming `abs()` Always Returns an Integer **Incorrect** ``` print(type(abs(-4.5))) ``` ### Incorrect Expectation ``` ``` ### Actual Output ``` ``` **Reason** `abs()` returns the same numeric type as its argument (except for complex numbers, where it returns a float). --- ### 2. Forgetting Parentheses **Incorrect** ``` number = -15 print(abs) ``` ### Output ``` ``` **Reason** `abs` is the function object itself. **Correct** ``` print(abs(number)) ``` --- ### 3. Passing a String Directly **Incorrect** ``` print(abs("-25")) ``` ### Output ``` TypeError: bad operand type for abs(): 'str' ``` **Reason** `abs()` expects a numeric value. **Correct** ``` print(abs(int("-25"))) ``` --- ### 4. Expecting the Original Variable to Change **Incorrect** ``` number = -10 abs(number) print(number) ``` ### Output ``` -10 ``` **Reason** `abs()` returns a new value. It does not modify the original variable. **Correct** ``` number = abs(number) print(number) ``` --- # Best Practices - Use `abs()` whenever you need the magnitude of a number. - Store the returned value if it will be used later. - Convert user input to a numeric type before calling `abs()`. - Use `abs(a - b)` when calculating the difference between two values. - Remember that `abs()` works with integers, floating-point numbers, and complex numbers. --- # Key Points to Remember - The absolute value is the distance of a number from zero. - Absolute values are always non-negative. - Python provides the built-in `abs()` function. - `abs()` works with integers, floating-point numbers, and complex numbers. - For complex numbers, `abs()` returns the magnitude. - `abs()` returns a new value and does not modify the original variable. - The return type depends on the type of the input value.