Which of the following functions calculates the absolute value of a number?

The ABS function in Microsoft Excel is a mathematical and trigonometric function used to return the absolute value of a number. The absolute value is the number's magnitude without its sign, meaning it is always a non-negative value. For example, if cell A1 contains -15, the formula =ABS(A1) will return 15. This function is essential for calculations where the direction or sign of a number is irrelevant, and only its distance from zero is required.

A. MAX: This function returns the largest value from a set of numbers, not the absolute value of a single number.

B. MIN: This function returns the smallest value from a set of numbers, not the absolute value.

C. SQRT: This function calculates the positive square root of a number and will return an error for negative inputs.

1. Microsoft Corporation. (n.d.). ABS function. Microsoft Support. Retrieved from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/abs-function-3420200f-5628-4e8c-99da-c99d7c87713c

Reference Point: The article's first paragraph states

"The ABS function returns the absolute value of a number. The absolute value of a number is the number without its sign."

2. Microsoft Corporation. (n.d.). MAX function. Microsoft Support. Retrieved from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/max-function-e050274a-9aaa-4a0b-9ffc-734cb2766dba

Reference Point: The article's summary states

"Returns the largest value in a set of values."

3. Microsoft Corporation. (n.d.). MIN function. Microsoft Support. Retrieved from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/min-function-61635d12-920f-4ce2-a70f-96f202dcc152

Reference Point: The article's summary states

"Returns the smallest number in a set of values."

4. Microsoft Corporation. (n.d.). SQRT function. Microsoft Support. Retrieved from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/sqrt-function-654975c2-05c4-4831-9a24-2c65e4040fdf

Reference Point: The article's description states

"Returns a positive square root." It also notes in the syntax section that the number must be non-negative.