ABS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ operator

The abs operator returns the absolute value of its argument.

syntax:

<expression> can be any REDUCE scalar expression.

examples:

abs(-a); 

  ABS(A) 


abs(-5); 

  5 


a := -10; 

  A := -10 


abs(a); 

  10 


abs(-a); 

  10

If the argument has had no numeric value assigned to it, such as a n identifier or polynomial, abs returns an expression involving abs of its argument, doing as much simplification of the argument as it can, such as dropping any preceding minus sign.