ABS Function in Excel
Beginner
Returns the absolute value of a number (removes negative sign).
Syntax
=ABS(number)Example
Use Case
Calculate variance regardless of whether it's positive or negative.
Common Errors to Avoid
- Only removes sign - doesn't round or change magnitude
- Text or errors return #VALUE!
- ABS(0) = 0
Pro Tips
Essential for variance and difference calculations where direction doesn't matter. Combine with SUM to calculate total deviation: =SUM(ABS(A1:A10-AVERAGE(A1:A10))). Use for distance calculations. Helpful in conditional formatting rules.
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