ABS function
PRO
BASIC
The ABS
function in Jspreadsheet Formulas Pro is a fundamental mathematical tool that calculates absolute values, making it essential for various professional applications:
Financial Analysis:
- Portfolio performance tracking
- Trading loss calculations
- Budget variance analysis
- Cash flow monitoring
- Risk assessment metrics
Engineering Applications:
- Tolerance measurements
- Stress analysis
- Vibration amplitude
- Signal processing
- Error margins
Scientific Research:
- Data deviation analysis
- Experimental error calculation
- Statistical significance
- Measurement precision
- Threshold detection
Quality Control:
- Manufacturing tolerances
- Process variation
- Specification compliance
- Performance metrics
- Calibration checks
Business Analytics:
- Sales performance tracking
- Inventory discrepancies
- Customer satisfaction metrics
- Efficiency measurements
- Trend analysis
The function converts negative values to positive while preserving positive values, enabling accurate magnitude calculations regardless of direction or sign. This makes it invaluable for professional applications requiring precise measurement of differences, deviations, or distances from reference points.
Documentation
Returns the absolute value of a number.
Category
Math and trigonometry
Syntax
ABS(x)
Parameter | Description |
---|---|
x |
The number for which to return the absolute value. |
Behavior
The ABS
function is designed to return the absolute value of a number. The absolute value of a number is the number without its sign. Therefore, ABS
transforms negative numbers into positive ones, but leaves positive numbers and zero unchanged. Here is how it handles various inputs:
- Empty cells: The
ABS
function treats empty cells as zero. - Texts: If the
ABS
function is used on a cell containing text, it will result in a#VALUE!
error because the function only processes numerical values. - Booleans: Boolean values are treated as numbers in this context.
TRUE
is considered as 1 andFALSE
as 0. - Errors: If the cell reference or the argument in the
ABS
function is an error, the function will return that error.
Common Errors
Error | Description |
---|---|
#VALUE! | This error occurs when the cell reference or argument in the ABS function is text. The ABS function only processes numerical values. |
#REF! | This error occurs when the cell reference is not valid. For example, you may have deleted a cell that was being referenced by the ABS function. |
Best practices
- Always check the cell reference or argument in the
ABS
function to ensure it contains numeric values. UsingABS
on text or non-numeric values will result in a#VALUE!
error.- Use the
ABS
function when you are interested in the magnitude of a number regardless of its sign. It is particularly useful in mathematical calculations where negative values can distort the results.- Be cautious when using the
ABS
function with boolean values. In spreadsheets,TRUE
is treated as 1 andFALSE
as 0.- When working with large data sets, ensure that the
ABS
function is not referencing any error cells, as it will return the same error.
Usage Examples
Here are comprehensive examples demonstrating the ABS function in various professional scenarios:
1. Financial Analysis:
// Investment Performance
=ABS(current_value - initial_investment)
// Track absolute portfolio gains/losses
// Trading Analysis
=ABS(exit_price - entry_price)
// Calculate price movement magnitude
// Risk Management
=ABS(portfolio_return - benchmark_return)
// Track tracking error
// Budget Control
=ABS(actual_expense - budgeted_amount)
// Monitor spending variations
// Revenue Analysis
=ABS(SUM(actual_revenue) - SUM(projected_revenue))
// Assess forecast accuracy
2. Engineering Applications:
// Structural Analysis
=ABS(measured_stress - allowable_stress)
// Check structural safety margins
// Vibration Analysis
=ABS(peak_amplitude - baseline)
// Monitor vibration levels
// Circuit Analysis
=ABS(measured_voltage - nominal_voltage)
// Check voltage deviation
// Thermal Analysis
=ABS(operating_temp - design_temp)
// Monitor temperature variations
// Dimensional Control
=ABS(actual_dimension - nominal_dimension)
// Verify manufacturing tolerances
3. Scientific Research:
// Experimental Analysis
=ABS(experimental_value - theoretical_value)
// Calculate experimental error
// Statistical Analysis
=ABS(sample_mean - population_mean)
// Measure sampling error
// Measurement Precision
=ABS(measured_value - calibration_standard)
// Assess measurement accuracy
// Data Validation
=ABS(new_reading - previous_reading)
// Detect significant changes
// Error Analysis
=ABS(observed_value - expected_value)/expected_value
// Calculate relative error
4. Quality Control:
// Process Control
=ABS(measured_value - target_value)
// Monitor process deviation
// Product Testing
=ABS(test_result - specification_limit)
// Check specification compliance
// Performance Metrics
=ABS(actual_performance - benchmark)
// Evaluate performance gaps
// Quality Metrics
=ABS(defect_rate - acceptable_limit)
// Monitor quality levels
// Equipment Calibration
=ABS(instrument_reading - standard_value)
// Verify calibration accuracy
5. Business Analytics:
// Sales Analysis
=ABS(actual_sales - sales_target)
// Track sales performance
// Inventory Management
=ABS(physical_count - system_count)
// Identify inventory discrepancies
// Customer Satisfaction
=ABS(satisfaction_score - target_score)
// Monitor service quality
// Efficiency Metrics
=ABS(actual_time - standard_time)
// Measure process efficiency
// Cost Analysis
=ABS(actual_cost - standard_cost)
// Track cost variances
6. Advanced Applications:
// Multi-dimensional Analysis
=ABS(SUMPRODUCT(actual_values - target_values))
// Calculate total deviation across dimensions
// Trend Analysis
=ABS(current_period - previous_period)/previous_period
// Calculate percentage change
// Composite Metrics
=ABS(weighted_score - benchmark_score)
// Evaluate weighted performance
// Statistical Control
=ABS(value - AVERAGE(range))/STDEV(range)
// Calculate z-score magnitude
// Error Propagation
=SQRT(SUM(ABS(partial_errors^2)))
// Calculate combined error
Interactive Spreadsheet Demo
<html>
<script src="https://jspreadsheet.com/v11/jspreadsheet.js"></script>
<script src="https://jsuites.net/v5/jsuites.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://jsuites.net/v5/jsuites.css" type="text/css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://jspreadsheet.com/v11/jspreadsheet.css" type="text/css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Material+Icons" />
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@jspreadsheet/formula-pro/dist/index.min.js"></script>
<div id="spreadsheet"></div>
<script>
// Set your JSS license key (The following key only works for one day)
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');
// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });
// Create a new spreadsheet
jspreadsheet(document.getElementById('spreadsheet'), {
worksheets: [{
data: [
[
"Temperature Change",
"Absolute Change"
],
[
-12.5,
"=ABS(A2)"
],
[
8.3,
"=ABS(A3)"
],
[
-4.7,
"=ABS(A4)"
],
[
0,
"=ABS(A5)"
]
]
}]
});
</script>
</html>
import React, { useRef } from "react";
import { Spreadsheet, Worksheet, jspreadsheet } from "@jspreadsheet/react";
import formula from "@jspreadsheet/formula-pro";
import "jsuites/dist/jsuites.css";
import "jspreadsheet/dist/jspreadsheet.css";
// Set license
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');
// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });
export default function App() {
// Spreadsheet array of worksheets
const spreadsheet = useRef();
// Worksheet data
const data = [
[
"Temperature Change",
"Absolute Change"
],
[
-12.5,
"=ABS(A2)"
],
[
8.3,
"=ABS(A3)"
],
[
-4.7,
"=ABS(A4)"
],
[
0,
"=ABS(A5)"
]
];
// Render component
return (
<Spreadsheet ref={spreadsheet}>
<Worksheet data={data} />
</Spreadsheet>
);
}
<template>
<Spreadsheet ref="spreadsheet">
<Worksheet :data="data" />
</Spreadsheet>
</template>
<script>
import { Spreadsheet, Worksheet, jspreadsheet } from "@jspreadsheet/vue";
import "jsuites/dist/jsuites.css";
import "jspreadsheet/dist/jspreadsheet.css";
import formula from "@jspreadsheet/formula-pro";
// Set license
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');
// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });
export default {
components: {
Spreadsheet,
Worksheet,
},
data() {
// Worksheet data
const data = [
[
"Temperature Change",
"Absolute Change"
],
[
-12.5,
"=ABS(A2)"
],
[
8.3,
"=ABS(A3)"
],
[
-4.7,
"=ABS(A4)"
],
[
0,
"=ABS(A5)"
]
]
return {
data
};
}
}
</script>
import { Component, ViewChild, ElementRef } from "@angular/core";
import jspreadsheet from "jspreadsheet";
import * as formula from "@jspreadsheet/formula-pro";
// Set your JSS license key (The following key only works for one day)
jspreadsheet.setLicense('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');
// Set the extensions
jspreadsheet.setExtensions({ formula });
@Component({
standalone: true,
selector: "app-root",
template: `<div #spreadsheet></div>`
})
export class AppComponent {
@ViewChild("spreadsheet") spreadsheet: ElementRef;
// Worksheets
worksheets: jspreadsheet.worksheetInstance[];
// Create a new data grid
ngAfterViewInit() {
// Create spreadsheet
this.worksheets = jspreadsheet(this.spreadsheet.nativeElement, {
worksheets: [{
data: [
[
"Temperature Change",
"Absolute Change"
],
[
-12.5,
"=ABS(A2)"
],
[
8.3,
"=ABS(A3)"
],
[
-4.7,
"=ABS(A4)"
],
[
0,
"=ABS(A5)"
]
]
}]
});
}
}