Make a negative number positive

Question

Make a negative number positive

Question

I have a Java method in which I'm summing a set of numbers. However, I want any negatives numbers to be treated as positives. So (1)+(2)+(1)+(-1) should equal 5.

I'm sure there is very easy way of doing this - I just don't know how.

Tray

2017/08/08

Popular Answer

The concept you are describing is called "absolute value", and Java has a function called Math.abs to do it for you. Or you could avoid the function call and do it yourself:

number = (number < 0 ? -number : number);

or

if (number < 0)
    number = -number;

Paul Tomblin

2009/01/29

Read less...

You're looking for absolute value, mate. Math.abs(-5) returns 5...

Hexagon Theory

2009/01/29

Use the abs function:

int sum=0;
for(Integer i : container)
  sum+=Math.abs(i);

jpalecek

2009/01/29

This code is not safe to be called on positive numbers.

int x = -20
int y = x + (2*(-1*x));
// Therefore y = -20 + (40) = 20

AZ_

2019/06/06

Try this (the negative in front of the x is valid since it is a unary operator, find more here):

int answer = -x;

With this, you can turn a positive to a negative and a negative to a positive.

However, if you want to only make a negative number positive then try this:

int answer = Math.abs(x);

OR, if you would prefer not to use the abs() method for some reason then try this:

int answer = Math.sqrt(Math.pow(x, 2));

Hope it helps! Good Luck!

Shreshth Kharbanda

2018/11/12

Are you asking about absolute values?

Math.abs(...) is the function you probably want.

Uri

2009/01/29

Jon Skeet · Accepted Answer · 11/23/2014 7:53:53 AM

Accepted Answer

Just call Math.abs. For example:

int x = Math.abs(-5);

Which will set x to 5.

Jon Skeet

2014/11/23