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The absolute value of a real number is also known as its modulus, magnitude, or numeric value. It represents the number’s distance from zero on a number line without considering the sign. Since it represents a distance, the absolute value is always positive.

In this guide, you will learn what absolute value is, the symbol used to represent it, and how to find it. You will also learn how to use the ABS function in Google Sheets to find a number’s absolute value. Finally, you will learn how to use the ABS function in combination with other functions.

What is Absolute Value?

The absolute value (modulus) of a real number corresponds to its non-negative value, regardless of its sign. It represents the distance from 0 on the number line in either direction. Therefore, the absolute value of -5 and 5 is the same: 5. In other words, the absolute value of a number is always positive.

What is the Absolute Value Sign?

The absolute value of variable x is |x|, which is read as ‘mod x’ or ‘modulus of x’. If the variable in question has a value of -1, its modulus is represented by vertical bars on either side of it: |-1|. Therefore, |-1| represents the absolute value of minus one, which is equal to one: |-1| = 1.

How to Calculate Absolute Value?

Let’s see how to find the absolute value of a number or expression.

Example: What is the Absolute Value of -2?

The absolute value of a positive number is the number itself, and the absolute value of a negative number is the number without the sign. Therefore, what is the absolute value of -2?

|-2| = 2

Example: What is the Absolute Value of (-2*4)+10)?

While the first case is easy, if you're dealing with an expression containing absolute values, be careful to apply them correctly. In other words, calculate the expression first, then find the absolute value of the result.

|(-2*4)+10)| = |(-8)+10| = |2| = 2

However, what if the expression looked like this:

(|-2|*4)+10

In this case, the absolute value symbols only apply to the first term, not the entire expression. Therefore, the first step is to find the absolute value of that number. After that, you can perform the calculations.

(|-2|*4)+10 = (2*4)+10 = (8)+10 = 18

How to Find Absolute Value in Google Sheets?

Now that you know what absolute value is, it’s time to learn how to find it in Google Sheets.

How to Use the ABS Function to Get Absolute Values in Google Sheets?

First, let’s get the absolute values of a set of values.

  1. 1. Open Google Sheets to the file containing your data.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Open Google Sheets
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Open Google Sheets
  1. 2. In the cell where you want the absolute value, type in the ABS function.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Add ABS Function
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Add ABS Function
  1. 3. After the opening parenthesis, select the cell containing the number whose absolute value you want. Close the parenthesis and press ‘Enter’.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Select Value
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Select Value
  1. 4. That’s it. You have the absolute value of the first value in the set.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Absolute Value
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Absolute Value
  1. 5. To get the absolute values of all the values in your set, grab the fill handle and drag it down to the last value.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Copy Formula
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Copy Formula
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How to Use the ABS Function in Google Sheets Formulas?

Follow the steps below to learn to use the ABS function in combination with other formulas and functions.

Sum Absolute Values in Range

Let’s see how you can sum the absolute values in a range without having to find the absolute value for each one. To do this, you’ll need to use the ABS, SUM, and ARRAYFORMULA functions. To learn more about using formulas and functions in Google Sheets, check out our guide on the 23 Must-Know Google Sheets Formulas.

  1. 1. Open your spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Open Google Sheets 2
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Open Google Sheets
  1. 2. In an empty cell, type in the SUM function as shown below.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Add SUM Function
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Add SUM Function
  1. 3. Right after the opening parenthesis, type in the ARRAYFORMULA function as below.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Add ARRAYFORMULA Function
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Add ARRAYFORMULA Function
  1. 4. Finally, type in the ABS function after the parenthesis.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Add ABS Function 2
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Add ABS Function
  1. 5. Select the range of cells containing the set of values. Remember that you’ll need three closing parentheses: one for each function. Press ‘Enter’ to see the result.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Close All Functions
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Close All Functions
  1. 6. That’s it. You have the sum of the absolute values of every item in the set.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Sum of Absolute Values in Set
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Sum of Absolute Values in Set
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Find Maximum & Minimum Absolute Values in Range

Follow the steps below to find the maximum and minimum absolute values in a range of cells. For this example, you will combine the ABS and ARRAYFORMULA functions with the MAX and MIN functions.

  1. 1. Open Google Sheets to the spreadsheet with your data.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Open Google Sheets 3
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Open Google Sheets
  1. 2. To find the maximum absolute value, type in the MAX function in an empty cell.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Add MAX Function
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Add MAX Function
  1. 3. Next, add the ARRAYFORMULA function after the opening parenthesis.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Add ARRAYFORMULA Function 2
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Add ARRAYFORMULA Function
  1. 4. Finally, add the ABS function.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Add ABS Function 3
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Add ABS Function
  1. 5. Select the range of cells with the set of values and remember to close the three sets of parentheses - one for each function.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Close All Parentheses
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Close All Parentheses
  1. 6. Press ‘Enter’ to see the result.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Maximum Absolute Value
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Maximum Absolute Value
  1. 7. To get the minimum absolute value, you can use the same formula as before and change MAX to MIN.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Minimum Absolute Value
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Minimum Absolute Value
  1. 8. That’s it. You have the sum of the absolute values in the range, as well as the maximum and minimum absolute values.
Absolute Value Definition Symbol Examples Minimum Absolute Value 2
Absolute Value: Definition, Symbol, Examples - Minimum Absolute Value

Conclusion

As you have seen, the absolute value of a real number is its magnitude, regardless of its sign. As it represents the distance from zero, the absolute value or modulus of a number is always a non-negative value. However, when you’re dealing with absolute values, you are more likely to need to use them within more complex formulas rather than simply find the absolute value of numbers. Fortunately, this is easy to do using Google Sheets.

You now know what absolute value is, the symbol used to represent it, and how to calculate it. You also know how to find the absolute value of numbers in Google Sheets using the ABS function. Additionally, you have step-by-step instructions on how to use the ABS function in combination with others so that you can perform other operations with absolute values.

Hady ElHady
Hady is Content Lead at Layer.

Hady has a passion for tech, marketing, and spreadsheets. Besides his Computer Science degree, he has vast experience in developing, launching, and scaling content marketing processes at SaaS startups.

Originally published Jan 26 2023, Updated Jun 26 2023