Pandas Series: abs() function

Pandas absolute value of column

The abs() function is used to get a Series/DataFrame with absolute numeric value of each element.

This function only applies to elements that are all numeric.

Syntax:

Series.abs(self)

Parameters: No parameters

Returns: Series/DataFrame containing the absolute value of each element.

Notes: For complex inputs, 1.2 + 1j, the absolute value is √$\sqrt{a^2+b^2}$

Example - Absolute numeric values in a Series:

Python-Pandas Code:

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
s = pd.Series([-2.8, 3, -4.44, 5])
s.abs()

Output:

0    2.80
1    3.00
2    4.44
3    5.00
dtype: float64

Example - Absolute numeric values in a Series with complex numbers:

Python-Pandas Code:

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
s = pd.Series([2.2 + 1j])
s.abs()

Output:

0    2.416609
dtype: float64

Example - Absolute numeric values in a Series with a Timedelta element:

Python-Pandas Code:

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
s = pd.Series([pd.Timedelta('2 days')])
s.abs()

Output:

0   2 days
dtype: timedelta64[ns]

Example - Select rows with data closest to certain value using argsort:

Python-Pandas Code:

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
df = pd.DataFrame({
    'p': [2, 3, 4, 5],
    'q': [10, 20, 30, 40],
    'r': [200, 60, -40, -60]
})
df

Output:

  p	q	r
0	2	10	200
1	3	20	60
2	4	30	-40
3	5	40	-60

Python-Pandas Code:

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
df = pd.DataFrame({
    'p': [2, 3, 4, 5],
    'q': [10, 20, 30, 40],
    'r': [200, 60, -40, -60]
})
df.loc[(df.r - 45).abs().argsort()]

Output:

   p   q    r
1  3  20   60
2  4  30  -40
3  5  40  -60
0  2  10  200

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