As you probably know, the ABS function returns the positive value of
the value passed to it. E.g.,

=ABS(-1) returns 1
=ABS(1) returns 1

So the question remains, of what are you trying to get the ABS of?
Perhaps

=ABS((C2-B2)/B2)

I think more detail is required for a definitive answer.

Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP
Excel Product Group
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com
(email on web site)


On Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:50:04 -0800, Pammy
wrote:

I have 4 columns of numbers and I am trying to get an ABS value. these are
based on years:
2005 2006 2007 2008

71 169 165 214
How do you do a ABS formula

The person who did this last year based it on 2006 and 2007 and he used:

=(C2-B2)/ABS(B2)