To find the absolute value of a given argument in Java, use the Math.abs() method. This is often helpful when the program deals with mathematical expressions where the |x| value (the absolute value of a variable x) is required to be calculated.
Java Math.abs
Java Math.abs() is a built-in method that returns an int value’s absolute (positive) value. The Math.abs() method gives the absolute value of the argument. The argument can be int, double, long, and float.
Syntax
public static int abs(int x) public static long abs(long x) public static float abs(float x) public static double abs(double x)
Parameter
The variable x, whose absolute value is to be determined.
Return Value
If the argument is not negative, it returns the value of the argument as it is. Otherwise, it returns the negation of that value.
public static int abs(int x)
For an int argument, if the argument is non-negative, the abs() method returns the argument as it is. For negative arguments, it returns the negation of that value. However, if the argument is Integer.MIN_VALUE, which is the most negative representable int, returns the same negative value.
Consider the following example for an int argument.
import java.lang.Math;
public class Example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int a = 24;
int b = -36;
int c = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
System.out.println(Math.abs(a));
System.out.println(Math.abs(b));
System.out.println(Math.abs(c));
}
}
Output
-> javac Example1.java -> java Example1 24 36 -2147483648
public static long abs(long x)
For a long argument, if the argument is non-negative, the abs() method returns the argument as it is. For negative arguments, it returns the negation of that value. However, if the argument is Long.MIN_VALUE, which is the most negative representable long, returns the same negative value.
Consider the following example for a long argument.
import java.lang.Math;
public class Example2 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
long a = 24090911;
long b = -360912340;
long c = Long.MIN_VALUE;
System.out.println(Math.abs(a));
System.out.println(Math.abs(b));
System.out.println(Math.abs(c));
}
}
Output
-> javac Example2.java -> java Example2 24090911 360912340 -9223372036854775808
public static float abs(float x)
For a float argument, if the argument is non-negative, the abs() method returns the argument as it is. For negative arguments, it returns the negation of that value.
For either positive zero or negative zero, it returns a positive zero. For infinite argument returns positive infinity. For NaN argument returns NaN.
Consider the following example for a float argument.
import java.lang.Math;
public class Example3 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
float a = 240.1f;
float b = -36.40f;
float c = -0.0f;
System.out.println(Math.abs(a));
System.out.println(Math.abs(b));
System.out.println(Math.abs(c));
System.out.println(Math.abs(6.4 / 0));
System.out.println(Math.abs(6.4 % 0));
}
}
Output
-> javac Example3.java -> java Example3 240.1 36.4 0.0 Infinity NaN
public static double abs(double x)
For a double argument, if the argument is non-negative, the abs() method returns the argument as it is. For negative arguments, it returns the negation of that value. For either positive zero or negative zero, it returns a positive zero. For infinite argument returns positive infinity. For NaN argument returns NaN.
Consider the following example for a double argument.
import java.lang.Math;
public class Example4 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
double a = 2210.1;
double b = -3614.450;
double c = -0.0;
System.out.println(Math.abs(a));
System.out.println(Math.abs(b));
System.out.println(Math.abs(c));
System.out.println(Math.abs(162.4 / 0));
System.out.println(Math.abs(162.4 % 0));
}
}
Output
-> javac Example4.java -> java Example4 2210.1 3614.45 0.0 Infinity NaN
That’s it for this tutorial.
