Absolute Value

[Chris B]

Does anyone know how to find the absolute value of a number?

I can, of course, say something like this:
if number < 0
set number = number - number * 2 (EX: -5 - (-10) = -5 + 10 = 5)
endif

But if there's a way to just find the absolute value, that'd be so much easier.

-Chris

 

[Trollvottel]

its the only way.
theres the bj RAbsBJ:

if a > 0 then
  return a
else
  return -a
endif

 

[Chris B]

oh yea, it's late lol, all I need to do is have -number. Thanks Troll, didn't think the WE would make it that simple I mean, not like this is hard, but the way I have it set out, it makes it a huge pain. Oh well.

-Chris

 

[Chocobo]

power 2 + square root does the same thing if you want it to be on one line

 

[Chris B]

Nice Chocobo, didn't even think about that! Thanks for both responses, I aprreciate it

One thing though, I've been wondering, is it safe to have equations while initiating a variable, or should I initialize and then set later? Late, does it matter whether I have either of these two?

local real DistX = sqrt((X2-X1)^2)
or
local real DistX
set DistX = sqrt((X2-X1)^2) ?

BTW, I'm sure my syntax in the arithmetic is off, but just setting an example

-Chris

 

[saw792]

It's perfectly safe to initialise a variable at declaration.

 

[Akolyt0r]

i think a custom abs function would be faster than that power squareroot stuff...
..
if a > 0 then
return a
else
return -a
endif
...

 

[Chocobo]

you won't even see the difference even if you call it 10000 times

 

[Akolyt0r]

but when calling it 100000 times you will see squrt(x^2) is about 35% slower (i did some benchmarking -.-)
but you are right it doesnt matter xD<

 

[Chris B]

but when calling it 100000 times you will see squrt(x^2) is about 35% slower (i did some benchmarking -.-)
but you are right it doesnt matter xD<

lol, considering it won't even be used 100 times at once, and it takes a fraction of a second, and is only a fraction slower, it doesn't matter

-Chris

 

[phyrex1an]

power 2 + square root does the same thing if you want it to be on one line

That doesn't work when the power 2 is greater than max size of jass integers.