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How to get absolute value in Java?

Published in Java Math 2 mins read

To get the absolute value of a number in Java, use the Math.abs() method. This method is part of Java's built-in Math class and can handle various numeric data types.

Here's a breakdown of how it works:

Using Math.abs()

The Math.abs() method comes in several overloaded versions to handle different data types:

  • Math.abs(int a): Returns the absolute value of an int.
  • Math.abs(long a): Returns the absolute value of a long.
  • Math.abs(float a): Returns the absolute value of a float.
  • Math.abs(double a): Returns the absolute value of a double.

Examples:

Here are some examples demonstrating how to use Math.abs():

public class AbsoluteValueExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int intValue = -10;
        long longValue = -100L;
        float floatValue = -3.14f;
        double doubleValue = -2.71828;

        int absInt = Math.abs(intValue);
        long absLong = Math.abs(longValue);
        float absFloat = Math.abs(floatValue);
        double absDouble = Math.abs(doubleValue);

        System.out.println("Absolute value of " + intValue + " is: " + absInt);       // Output: 10
        System.out.println("Absolute value of " + longValue + " is: " + absLong);     // Output: 100
        System.out.println("Absolute value of " + floatValue + " is: " + absFloat);   // Output: 3.14
        System.out.println("Absolute value of " + doubleValue + " is: " + absDouble); // Output: 2.71828
    }
}

Explanation:

  1. Import the Math class (optional): The Math class is part of the java.lang package, which is imported by default, so you don't need to explicitly import it.
  2. Call Math.abs(): Pass the number whose absolute value you want to find as an argument to the Math.abs() method.
  3. Store or use the result: The method returns the absolute value of the number, which you can then store in a variable or use directly in your code.

Important Considerations:

  • Integer Overflow: Be aware of potential integer overflow when using Math.abs() with Integer.MIN_VALUE or Long.MIN_VALUE. For example, Math.abs(Integer.MIN_VALUE) returns Integer.MIN_VALUE because the positive equivalent is larger than the maximum positive int value.

In summary, the Math.abs() method provides a simple and efficient way to calculate the absolute value of numeric data types in Java.

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