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1 Aug 2024 14:29:56 EDT (-0400)
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From: Daniel Hulme
Subject: Re: abs()?
Date: 16 Nov 2005 15:02:43
Message: <20051116200255.3391aef0@surreal>
>   How can you explain it to someone who is neither? You would have to
> start from number theory principles...
returns -1 * A?

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From: Kenneth
Subject: Re: abs()?
Date: 17 Nov 2005 01:05:01
Message: <web.437c1c86e81deef51358cd00@news.povray.org>
Tim Cook <z99### [at] bellsouthnet> wrote:
> From the documentation:
>
> "abs(A) Absolute value of A. If A is negative, returns -A otherwise
> returns A."
>

Not too long ago, this very subject was addressed in a different thread..

<43401940$1@news.povray.org>

The level of confusion that abs() seems to generate among some users DOES
indicate, IMHO, that a "better" description is needed in the docs.  OR
perhaps just an example of its use! In fact, there are other "math"
keywords that could use examples as well, to help the non-mathematician.

Ken


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From: Rune
Subject: Re: abs()?
Date: 18 Nov 2005 03:37:11
Message: <437d92b7@news.povray.org>
Tim Cook wrote:
> Anthony D. Baye wrote:
>>> "abs(A) Absolute value of A. If A is negative, returns -A otherwise
>>> returns A."
>> Thus:
>> abs(x) returns the MAGNITUDE of x, such that |x|=|-x|.  This value is
>> always positive.
>
> Ahhhh ok, I just stumbled on the minus sign in confusion, as if you're
> not paying close attention it looks redundant and as though it
> returns a negative number.  Isn't there a better way of wording the
> docs there?

Not a replacement, but maybe an addition?

"Thus, no matter if A is positive or negative (or zero), abs(A) will return 
a positive number (or zero)."

Rune
-- 
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From: Darren New
Subject: Re: abs()?
Date: 18 Nov 2005 11:55:48
Message: <437e0794$1@news.povray.org>
Rune wrote:
> Not a replacement, but maybe an addition?

I find examples usually help, too.
   So, abs(0) is 0, abs(12) is 12, and abs(-5) is 5. The result is never 
negative.

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
    Sabotage? Communist conspiracy? Or just
    Microsoft again? Only time will tell.


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From: Rune
Subject: Re: abs()?
Date: 19 Nov 2005 08:37:22
Message: <437f2a92$1@news.povray.org>
Darren New wrote:
> Rune wrote:
>> Not a replacement, but maybe an addition?
>
> I find examples usually help, too.
>   So, abs(0) is 0, abs(12) is 12, and abs(-5) is 5. The result is
> never negative.

Yes, agreed.

Rune
-- 
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