What is the ABS Function
The ABS function returns the absolute value of a number, which means it removes any negative sign and always returns a positive number. This is very useful when you want to measure distance, difference, or magnitude without worrying about direction.
Formula: =ABS(number)
Practical Example 1
Suppose A2 contains -45.5. You want the positive value.
Type: =ABS(A2)
Result: 45.5
Practical Example 2
You have two values in A2 and B2. You want to know the difference between them, regardless of which is bigger.
Type: =ABS(A2-B2)
Result: the positive distance between the two numbers
Practical Example 3
You have monthly targets in column A and actual sales in column B. You want to measure how far off each month is.
Type: =ABS(B2-A2)
Result: the absolute deviation from target
When to Use It
ABS is used in finance for measuring variance, in statistics for calculating mean absolute deviation, in quality control for measuring tolerance, and in any situation where you need distance without direction.