Calculators

Algebra

Use this calculator to find the absolute difference between two numbers. Enter 2 real numbers for x and y. The absolute difference between two real numbers x and y is

\[ \big| \, x - y \, \big| \]

What is Absolute Difference?

Absolute difference is the size of the difference between any two numbers. You can think of this as the distance between the two numbers on a number line. Whether the numbers are positive or negative, absolute difference tells you the value of this distance.

Examples of Absolute Difference Formula Calculations:

1. Find the absolute difference between 3 and 9.

\[ \big| \, x - y \, \big|\] \[ = \big| \,3 - 9 \, \big|\] \[ = \big| \,-6 \, \big| = \;6\]

The difference between 3 and 9 on a number line is 6 units.

2. Find the absolute difference between -3 and 9.

\[ \big| \, x - y \, \big|\] \[ = \big| \,(-3) - 9 \, \big|\] \[ = \big| \,-3 - 9 \, \big|\] \[ = \big| \,-12 \, \big| = \;12\]

The difference between -3 and 9 on a number line is 12 units.

3. Find the absolute difference between -3 and -9.

\[ \big| \, x - y \, \big| \] \[ = \big| \,(-3) - (-9) \, \big|\] \[ = \big| \,-3 + 9 \, \big|\] \[ = \big| \,6 \, \big| = \;6\]

The difference between -3 and -9 on a number line is 6 units.