<doc>
  <legacy_id>1097</legacy_id>
  <name>abs</name>
  <type>function</type>
  <syntax>
    <example>the abs of <i>number</i></example>
    <example>abs(<i>number</i>)</example>
  </syntax>
  <library></library>
  <objects>
  </objects>
  <synonyms>
  </synonyms>
  <classification>
    <category>Math, Logic, &amp; Dates</category>
  </classification>
  <references>
    <function tag="round">round Function</function>
    <function tag="trunc">trunc Function</function>
  </references>
  <history>
    <introduced version="1.0">Added.</introduced>
  </history>
  <platforms>
    <mac/>
    <windows/>
    <linux/>
    <ios/>
    <android/>
  </platforms>
  <classes>
    <desktop/>
    <server/>
    <web/>
    <mobile/>
  </classes>
  <security>
  </security>
  <summary><glossary tag="return">Returns</glossary> the absolute value of a number.</summary>
  <examples>
    <example>abs(14)</example>
    <example>the abs of -14</example>
    <example>abs(firstNum - secondNum)</example>
    <example>abs(secondNum - firstNum)</example>
  </examples>
  <description>
    <p>Use the <b>abs</b> <control_st tag="function">function</control_st> if you need to know the magnitude of the number and are not concerned about whether it is negative or not.</p><p>  </p><p><b>Parameters:</b></p><p>The <i>number</i> is a positive or <glossary tag="negative">negative</glossary> number, or any <glossary tag="expression">expression</glossary> that <glossary tag="evaluate">evaluates</glossary> to a number.</p><p/><p><b>Value:</b></p><p>The <b>abs</b> <control_st tag="function">function</control_st> <glossary tag="return">returns</glossary> a positive number.</p><p/><p><b>Comments:</b></p><p>The absolute value of a <i>number</i> is that number's distance from zero. If the <i>number</i> is positive, its absolute value is just the number; if the <i>number</i> is <glossary tag="negative">negative</glossary>, its absolute value is the <glossary tag="negative">negative</glossary> of the number. Because of this, the absolute value of a number is always positive.</p>
  </description>
</doc>