> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://parabola.io/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How do I find the absolute value of a number?

> Users working with financial or metric data may need to convert negative numbers into positive values, especially for reporting, comparisons, or aggregations. This is where calculating the absolute value of a number comes in.

## Using an If/Else Column Step

Use this step to populate a new column with the absolute values of another.

### Steps

First, create the new step:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Add an **If/Else Column** step
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Select a name for your new column
  </Step>
</Steps>

Next, add values for the case when the value is above zero:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Under "If this is true" select your input column and "is greater than or equal to"
  </Step>

  <Step>
    enter 0 in the Condition box
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Under "Then set the value to", put `{input column name}`
  </Step>
</Steps>

Next, add values for negative values:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Click "+ Add a rule"
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Under "else, if this is true" select your input column and *"Is less than"*
    Enter 0 in the condition box
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Enter 0 in the condition box
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Underneath "then set the value to", click the gear icon
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Make sure the "Accepts math functions" checkbox is checked
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Under "Then set the value to", put `{input column name} * -1`
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Using the Find and Replace step

A simpler solution can be to use **Find and Replace** to treat the number as a string and replace the negative sign (-) with nothing.

### Steps:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Add a **Find and Replace** step.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Select the column with the negative values.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Set it to find "-" and replace with nothing. Make sure you're searching for "in any part of a cell" and replacing "in any part of the cell".
  </Step>
</Steps>