ABS Function in Excel

In Microsoft Excel, the absolute value function (ABS Function) is a Math formula that returns the absolute value of a given number. The absolute value of a number represents number's distance from zero, regardless of the direction. This means that the distance of a number x has the same distance as negative number -x from zero. The ABS function is available for all Excel versions. In this guide, we’re going to show you how to use the absolute value function in Excel and also go over some tips and error handling methods.

ABS Function Syntax

For this function to work in an Excel worksheet, use the syntax below:

ABS(number)

Here, "number" is a real number for which you seek the absolute value.

ABS Function (Absolute Value Function) with Examples

Simple Use Case

The function requires a single argument, and it can be a value, cell reference, or another formula.

=ABS(-15) returns 15

Closest Date

The ABS function can be used to calculate the days between dates. For example, to calculate the difference between a date (MyDate) and today's date, use the following formula:

=ABS(MyDate-TODAY()) returns the difference by days between dates

Excel stores dates as numbers. Excel assumes that the date 1/1/1900 is “1″, and increases this number by 1 for each day. For example; 12/31/2018 is equal to 43465.

Tolerance

Another common usage of the ABS function is to calculate the tolerance. Tolerance represents the acceptable amount a value can change. These amounts are always indicated as positive values. Thus, the function is perfect for these types of calculations. The following formula checks if the absolute value is less than or equal to the allowed tolerance, and returns "Yes" or "No" depending on the outcome.

=IF(ABS(0.5-0.52)<=0.01,"Yes","No") returns "No" because 0.02 > 0.01

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Tips for Using ABS Function

The ABS function effectively removes the sign of a number and returns a positive value. The Function simplifies calculations by focusing solely on the numerical value's magnitude, ignoring whether it's positive or negative. This might be useful for scenarios like financial analysis or temperature tracking.
You can use the function to calculate absolute difference between dates. When calculating the difference between dates, ABS function ensures a positive result, giving a clear count of days between two dates. which might be useful for project timelines and event planning.
ABS function is useful for tolerance checks, providing a straightforward "Yes" or "No" outcome based on whether the observed difference falls within the acceptable range. This might be useful in quality control and manufacturing processes.