| Description |
The Abs function returns the absolute value of a negative or positive number. It does this by removing a negative sign, if found.
The Number can be any numeric type, and can even be a Variant, as long as it can be converted to a number. For example, a Variant set to a string '-1.23' will work fine. Always, Abs converts the Variant to an Extended floating point number prior to removing any negative sign, even if the result is an integer value.
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| Notes |
Floating point numbers can be set to extreme values, such as infinity (see the example). The Abs function simply removes the negative sign of these, so that -INF becomes INF.
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| Related commands |
| Div |
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Performs integer division, discarding the remainder |
| Mod |
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Performs integer division, returning the remainder |
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| Example code : Illustrating absolute values of different data types |
// Full Unit code.
// -----------------------------------------------------------
// You must store this code in a unit called Unit1 with a form
// called Form1 that has an OnCreate event called FormCreate.
unit Unit1;
interface
uses
// The System unit does not need to be defined
SysUtils,
Forms, Dialogs;
type
TForm1 = class(TForm)
procedure FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
end;
var
Form1: TForm1;
implementation
{$R *.dfm} // Include form definitions
procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
var
float, bigFloat : single;
int : Integer;
varVar : Variant;
begin
float := -1.5; // Small negative floating point number
bigFloat := -4.56E100; // Infinite negative floating point number
int := -7; // Negative integer
varVar := '-98'; // Variants are converted to floating point!
ShowMessage('Abs(float) = '+FloatToStr(Abs(float)));
ShowMessage('Abs(bigFloat) = '+FloatToStr(Abs(bigFloat)));
ShowMessage('Abs(int) = '+FloatToStr(Abs(int)));
// Variants are converted into Extended floating types
float := Abs(varVar);
ShowMessage('Abs(varVar) = '+FloatToStr(float));
end;
end.
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| Hide full unit code |
Abs(float) = 1.5
Abs(bigFloat) = INF
Abs(int) = 7
Abs(varVar) = 98
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