abs function to get absolute value of same type of the input number in Python

abs function returns absolute value of input number ( with same dtype ).
abs() is a built-in function of Python so no need to import any module.

Here are some examples with different type of numbers.

print(abs(-4))    # 4
print(abs(-4.6))  # 4.6
print(abs(4))     # 4
print(abs(4.6))   # 4.6

Data type of the output is same as input number.

print(type(abs(-4)))    # <class 'int'>
print(type(abs(-4.6)))  # <class 'float'>
print(type(abs(4)))     # <class 'int'>
print(type(abs(4.6)))   # <class 'float'>

Example 1: Using abs() with Negative Floats

negative_float = -7.25
print(abs(negative_float))  # Output: 7.25

Example 2: Applying abs() to Complex Numbers

complex_num = 3 + 4j
print(abs(complex_num))  # Output: 5.0

Example 3: Using abs() in a List Comprehension

numbers = [-1, 2, -3, 4, -5]
absolute_numbers = [abs(num) for num in numbers]
print(absolute_numbers)  # Output: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Example 4: Calculating Distance Between Two Points

point1 = (3, 4)
point2 = (7, 1)
distance = abs(point2[0] - point1[0]) + abs(point2[1] - point1[1])
print(distance)  # Output: 7

Example 5: Handling User Input with abs()

user_input = input('Enter a number: ')
number = float(user_input)
print('The absolute value is: ', abs(number))

Difference between fabs() and abs()

fabs() is included in Python math module so we have to import it before using. Where as abs() is part of built in functions of core Python so no need to import any library.

fabs() returns always float dtype. Whenever input number can't be converted to float , fabs() generates error. However abs() returns the same dtype of input number.

Variables in Python Keywords in Python
All Built in Functions in Python

Math Functions math.fabs() Python- Tutorials

Subhendu Mohapatra

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abs() Absolute value of number