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Calculating the Absolute Value of a Number Using If and Conditional Operator in C#

In this C# program, we aim to calculate the absolute value of a number x. The absolute value of a number is always non-negative. If the number is positive or zero, the absolute value is simply the number itself. If the number is negative, the absolute value is the negation of the number (i.e., the number with its sign flipped).

The program demonstrates two different methods to calculate the absolute value:

Using an if statement - This method explicitly checks if the number is negative, and if it is, it negates it to get the absolute value.

Using the conditional operator (? :) - This method provides a more compact way of achieving the same result, using the ternary operator to check if the number is negative and return the appropriate value.

This exercise helps in understanding how to work with conditional logic in C#, both using traditional if statements and the more concise conditional operator.



Group

C# Flow Control Basics

Objective

Write a C# program to calculate (and display) the absolute value of a number x: if the number is positive, its absolute value is exactly the number x; if it's negative, its absolute value is -x.

Do it in two different ways in the same program: using "if" and using the "conditional operator" (?).

Example C# Exercise

 Copy C# Code 
using System;

namespace AbsoluteValueCalculator
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Prompt the user to enter a number
            Console.Write("Enter a number: ");
            double x = double.Parse(Console.ReadLine());  // Read the number entered by the user

            // Calculate the absolute value using 'if' statement
            double absoluteValueIf = x;
            if (x < 0)
            {
                absoluteValueIf = -x; // If the number is negative, negate it to get the absolute value
            }

            // Display the result using 'if' statement
            Console.WriteLine("Using 'if': The absolute value of {0} is {1}", x, absoluteValueIf);

            // Calculate the absolute value using the conditional operator (ternary operator)
            double absoluteValueConditional = (x < 0) ? -x : x; // If x is negative, use -x, otherwise use x

            // Display the result using the conditional operator
            Console.WriteLine("Using conditional operator: The absolute value of {0} is {1}", x, absoluteValueConditional);
        }
    }
}

 Output

//Example 1 (Positive Number):
Enter a number: 25
Using 'if': The absolute value of 25 is 25
Using conditional operator: The absolute value of 25 is 25

//Example 2 (Negative Number):
Enter a number: -12
Using 'if': The absolute value of -12 is 12
Using conditional operator: The absolute value of -12 is 12

//Example 3 (Zero):
Enter a number: 0
Using 'if': The absolute value of 0 is 0
Using conditional operator: The absolute value of 0 is 0

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