# 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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Idk yo try asking a teacher or principle on that one –  user204977 Jan 6 at 1:08
Hello. ${} {} {}$ –  Dustan Levenstein Jan 6 at 1:11
I came across this post in the review queue and thought it was a test post. Evidently not. This would be better off as a comment, if as a post at all. –  HDE 226868 Jan 6 at 1:28
This does not provide an answer to the question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post - you can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post. –  dustin Jan 6 at 1:47

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