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Question

Javascript function to get the difference between two numbers

Answer 1

+4 A:

Using ternery

function foo(num1, num2){
  return (num1 > num2)? num1-num2 : num2-num1
}

Or

function foo(num1, num2){
  if num1 > num2
    return num1-num2
  else
    return num2-num1
}

Salil 2010-07-01 10:06:12

This is the best solution is any solution using absolute function will provide incorrect results if you wanted to find the difference between a negative and positive number.

Tom Gullen 2010-07-01 10:10:44

Why that? Can you give an example where you think Math.abs(a - b) delivers the wrong result?

Frank 2010-07-01 10:18:09

@Tom Gullen: `Math.abs(3 - (-5))` will return 8 ;)

Niels van der Rest 2010-07-01 10:19:19

Ah sorry, thought the others were comparing abs(num1) - abs(num2) not abs(num1 - num2)

Tom Gullen 2010-07-01 10:25:18

I hope there is no difference between `Math.abs(a - b)` and `Math.abs((a) - (b))`

Mithun P 2010-07-01 10:26:06

No, those will return the same result. I just added the extra parenthesis for better readability.

Niels van der Rest 2010-07-01 10:36:16

Thanks @Niels ...

Mithun P 2010-07-01 10:48:59

Answer 2

+6 A:

var difference = function (a, b) { return Math.abs(a - b) }

mykhal 2010-07-01 10:07:13

Alternative (and more used syntax): `function diff(a,b){return Math.abs(a-b);}`Best and simples solution.

Alxandr 2010-07-01 10:10:50

.. and then `foo = difference`, to be complete :)

mykhal 2010-07-01 10:11:38

Why putting the function in a var ?

Clement Herreman 2010-07-01 10:14:00

Clement Herreman: it's a different story. this "varing" is not necessary at all, i just wanted to provide a pure solution (properly define the function in the actual scope)

mykhal 2010-07-01 10:31:42

Answer 3

+2 A:

function difference(n, m){
    return Math.abs(n - m)
}

fmark 2010-07-01 10:08:39

Answer 4

+3 A:

It means you want to return absolute value.

function foo(num1 , num2) {
   return Math.abs(num1-num2);
}

Judas Imam 2010-07-01 10:08:53

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Javascript function to get the difference between two numbers

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