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Added explantion on using mathematical expression (#23380)

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Updated the article with concepts and examples on using mathematical expressions as an argument to Abs.
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Aman Ranjan Verma
2018-12-04 03:37:56 +05:30
committed by Christopher McCormack
parent b2ac9b1702
commit f6bc110216
1 changed files with 8 additions and 3 deletions
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guide/english/python/abs-function/index.md
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---
title: Python Abs Function
---
`abs()` is a built-in function in Python 3, to compute the absolute value of any number. The absolute value of a number "means only how far a number is from 0" <sup>1</sup> It takes one argument `x`. The argument can even be a <a href='https://docs.python.org/3.0/library/cmath.html' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>complex number</a>, and in that case its <a href='http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/sigma%20complex%20number%20leaflets/sigma-complex9-2009-1.pdf' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>modulus</a> is returned.
`abs()` is a built-in function in Python 3, to compute the absolute value of any number. The absolute value of a number "means only how far a number is from 0" <sup>1</sup> It takes one argument `x`. The argument can even be a <a href='https://docs.python.org/3.0/library/cmath.html' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>complex number</a>, or a <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expression_(mathematics)' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>mathematical expression</a>.
## Argument
It takes one argument `x` - an integer, or decimal, or a complex number.
It takes one argument `x` - either an integer, or decimal, or complex number, or any mathematical expression in general.
## Return Value
The return value would be a positive number or zero. Even if a complex number is passed, it would return its magnitude, computed as per complex number algebra.
+ A complex number is passed - It would return its <a href='http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/resources/sigma%20complex%20number%20leaflets/sigma-complex9-2009-1.pdf' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>modulus</a> i.e., magnitude, computed as per complex number algebra.
+ A mathematical expression is passed - It would return its `|result|`, computed as per <a href ='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_operations' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'> BODMAS </a> rule.
## Code Sample
```python
print(abs(3.4)) # prints 3.4
print(abs(-6)) # prints 6
print(abs(3 + 4j)) # prints 5.0, because |3 + 4j| = 5
print(abs(3 + 4 - 6 * 3.4)) # prints 13.4, because |3 + 4 - (6 * 3.4)| = |3 + 4 - 20.4| = |-13.4| = 13.4
print(abs(3 - 4j - 3 - 4j)) # prints 8.0, because |(3 - 3) + (- 4j - 4j)| = 8.0
```
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<a href='https://docs.python.org/3/library/functions.html#abs' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Official Docs</a>