How do you absolute a number in Python?
To find the absolute value of a given number, use the Python function abs(). It is a built-in function, so no import is necessary to use it.
abs() returns the absolute value for a given integer or float. If the given argument is a complex number, the magnitude of it is returned.
absolute value of integer
If an integer is given, the abs() function returns the absolute value of the integer.
print(abs(-10))
10
absolute value of float
If a float value is given, the abs() function returns the absolute value of the float.
print(abs(-5.555))
5.555
absolute value of complex number
If a complex number is given, the abs() function returns the magnitude of the complex number.
print(abs(3 - 4j))
5.0
absolute value of list elements
To apply the abs() function to a list we can use list comprehension or the map() function.
# absolute value of list using list comprehension
myList = [-5, -2, 5, 3, -5.555, - 4j]
NewList = [abs(element) for element in myList]
print(NewList)
The NewList only containing non-negative numbers is returned.
[5, 2, 5, 3, 5.555, 4.0]
Alternatively, we can achieve the same result by using the map() function.
# absolute value of list using map() function
myList = [-5, -2, 5, 3, -5.555, - 4j]
NewList = list(map(abs, myList))
print(NewList)
The same NewList is returned.
[5, 2, 5, 3, 5.555, 4.0]
abs() syntax
The syntax of the abs() function is:
abs(number)
abs() arguments
The abs() function takes a single argument.
If more or less than one argument is given, a TypeError occurs.
The argument can be of type integer, float or complex number.
If any other type like string is given, a TypeError occurs.
abs() return value
The abs() function returns for integers the absolute integer value, for float types the absolute float value and for complex numbers the magnitude.