Difference between two numbers

[robertdseals]

How do I get the difference between two numbers. The problem is sometime both numbers will be positive, sometimes the first is positive and the second negative, sometimes the first is negative and the second is positive, sometimes they are both negative.

 

[T. Valko]

How do I get the difference between two numbers. The problem is sometime both numbers will be positive, sometimes the first is positive and the second negative, sometimes the first is negative and the second is positive, sometimes they are both negative.

Maybe this...

With your numbers in A1 and B1:

=ABS(A1)-ABS(B1)

Or, the other way around:

=ABS(B1)-ABS(A1)

 

[robertdseals]

Not sure that would work because if the first number is 1000 and the second is -100 you would get 900 instead of 1100.

 

[T. Valko]

Not sure that would work because if the first number is 1000 and the second is -100 you would get 900 instead of 1100.

Can you post some examples and tell us what results you expect?

 

[robertdseals]

100 to 500 would be 400. -100 to 500 would be 600. -100 to -500 would be 400. -200 to 300 would be 500.

 

[Scott Huish]

=abs(b1-a1)

Excel Workbook
	A	B	C
1	100	500	400
2	-100	500	600
3	-100	-500	400
4	-200	300	500
Sheet1

 

[robertdseals]

By jove I think that's it!

 

[T. Valko]

100 to 500 would be 400. -100 to 500 would be 600. -100 to -500 would be 400. -200 to 300 would be 500.

Try this...

Book1
	A	B	C
1	Value1	Value2	Diff
2	100	500	400
3	-100	500	600
4	-100	-500	400
5	-200	300	500
Sheet1

This formula entered in C2 and copied down:

=ABS(B2-A2)