ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition By Colin Moock
Chapter 18. ActionScript Language Reference
Math.abs( ) Method
Flash 5; can be used when exporting Flash 4 movies
compute the absolute value of a number
Math.abs(x)
Arguments
x
Any integer or floating-point number.
Returns
The absolute value of x (a positive number of magnitude x).
Description
The abs( ) method calculates the distance between x and 0 (i.e., the absolute value of x). It leaves zero and positive numbers unchanged and converts negative numbers into positive numbers of the same magnitude. It is useful for calculating the difference between two numbers without regard to which is larger. For example, it is useful when calculating the distance between two points, because distances are always positive.
Example
Math.abs(-5); // Returns 5 // Calculate the difference between two numbers function diff (num1, num2) { return Math.abs(num1-num2); } diff(-5, 5); // Returns 10
