

If you don't like using array formulas in your worksheets, you can trick the ABS function into processing a range by nesting it into the array argument of the INDEX function like shown below. Please be sure to properly complete the array formulas by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Enter. With our sample dataset in A2:B5, the formulas take the following shape: To get an absolute sum of all numbers in a range, use one of the following formulas: In this example, we return "Yes" if the difference is within tolerance, "No" otherwise:

In situations when you need to change negative number to positive numbers, the Excel ABS function is an easy solution. Convert negative numbers to positive numbers But can you think of real-life applications of an absolute formula? The following examples will hopefully help you gain a better understanding of what you are really finding.
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You now know the concept of absolute value and how to calculate it in Excel. The following screenshot shows our absolute formula in Excel: It can be represented by a value, cell reference or another formula.įor example, to find the absolute value of a number in cell A2, you use this formula: Where number is the number you want to get the absolute value of.

In Excel, there is no absolute value symbol, but there is a special function for getting an absolute value - ABS function. In math, the absolute value of x is denoted as |x| like in these examples: The absolute value of a negative number is the number without its negative sign.The absolute value of a positive number is the number itself.In simple terms, the absolute value of a number is the distance of that number from zero on a number line, regardless of the direction.įor example, the absolute value of the number 3 and -3 is the same (3) because they are equally far from zero:įrom the above visual, you can figure out that: More examples of absolute value in Excel.Find maximum and minimum absolute value.How to calculate absolute value in Excel - formula examples.

But sometimes you may need to use only positive numbers, and that's where the absolute value comes in handy. One of the fundamental things we know about numbers is that they can be positive and negative. The tutorial explains the concept of the absolute value of a number and shows some practical applications of the ABS function to calculate absolute values in Excel: sum, average, find max/min absolute value in a dataset.
