Python Absolute Value – abs()

Python abs() function returns the absolute value of the number. It’s one of the built-in functions in python builtins module.

Python Absolute Value using abs()

Python abs() takes a single argument, which has to be a number, and returns its absolute value.

• Integer, Long – returns absolute value.
• Float – returns absolute value.
• Complex – returns its magnitude
• Numbers in different formats – returns absolute value in decimal system even if numbers are defined in binary, octal, hexadecimal or exponential form.

Python abs() with integers

import sys

x = 5 # int
print(abs(x))

x = sys.maxsize # long
print(abs(x))

Output:

5
9223372036854775807

Python absolute value of float

x = 50.23434 # float
print(abs(x))

Output:

50.23434

Python abs() with complex numbers

x = 10 - 4j # complex
print(abs(x))

x = complex(10, 2) # another complex example
print(abs(x))

Output:

10.770329614269007
10.198039027185569

Python abs() with different format numbers

# numbers in different formats
x = 10.23e1/2 # exponential
print(abs(x))

x = 0b1010 # binary
print(abs(x))

x = 0o15 # octal
print(abs(x))

x = 0xF # hexadecimal
print(abs(x))

Output:

51.15
10
13
15

That’s all for quick examples of python absolute values of numbers using abs() function.

Reference: Official Documentation