# Convert any number to positive. How?

How to convert any number (negative or positive) into a positive number.. For example, my input can be 4545 or -4545, I need the out come to be positive value 4545.

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## 2 Answers

You just have to simply multiply by $-1$. For example if you have a number $-a$ then multiply by $-1$ to get $-a \times -1 =a$. If the number is positive then multiply by $1$.

Or if you are aware of the Absolute Value, then take the absolute value of the number.

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This is the problem. I am getting the first value from an equation. I do not know it would be positive or negative. But I want it in positive. So I need to apply some equation on it if I am right. – Muneer May 28 '11 at 7:04
cool. Absolute Value is working. – Muneer May 28 '11 at 7:11

With a calculator, you could make a number positive in one of two (simple) ways:

• $\text{abs}(x)$
• $\sqrt{(x^2)}$

The first one is recommended, but the second one will work as well as the square root function on most calculators returns the positive root. Squaring a real number always makes it positive, so taking the square root of a number squared returns the positive number.

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Yes, by all means use $\operatorname{abs}(x)$! You don't want to waste time squaring and taking roots (you'll also have to cope with imprecisions)... – t.b. May 28 '11 at 7:10

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Precisely. The second option is a work-around only (like if your calculator doesn't have an absolute-value function). – El'endia Starman May 28 '11 at 7:12

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In textbooks, the first one is often written $\lvert x\rvert$. – FUZxxl May 28 '11 at 8:57
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