Get the Difference between Two Numbers in JavaScript

Get the Difference between Two Numbers #

To get the difference between two numbers, subtract the first number from the second and pass the result to the Math.abs() function, e.g. Math.abs(10 - 5). The Math.abs() function returns the absolute value of a number.

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function getDifference(a, b) {
  return Math.abs(a - b);
}

console.log(getDifference(10, 15)); // 👉️ 5
console.log(getDifference(15, 10)); // 👉️ 5
console.log(getDifference(-10, 10)); // 👉️ 20

The Math.abs function returns the absolute value of a number, in other words it returns the number's distance from zero.

Here are some examples:

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console.log(Math.abs(-3)); // 👉️ 3
console.log(Math.abs(-3.5)); // 👉️ 3.5
console.log(Math.abs(-0)); // 👉️ 0
console.log(Math.abs(3.5)); // 👉️ 3.5
console.log(Math.abs('-3.5')); // 👉️ 3.5

The Math.abs method returns the provided number if it's positive or zero and the negation of the number if it's negative.

An alternative approach is to use an if statement.

Get the Difference between Two Numbers using if statement #

To get the difference between two numbers, use an if statement to check which number is greater, and subtract the lower number from the greater number, e.g. if (numA > numB) {return numA - numB}.

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function getDifference(a, b) {
  if (a > b) {
    return a - b;
  }

  return b - a;
}

console.log(getDifference(10, 15)); // 👉️ 5
console.log(getDifference(15, 10)); // 👉️ 5
console.log(getDifference(-10, 10)); // 👉️ 20

In our if statement, we check if the first number is greater than the second, if it is - we subtract the lower number from the greater and return the result.

Otherwise, we know that the numbers are equal, or the second number is greater, and we do the inverse.

This could be shortened by using a ternary operator.

To get the difference between two numbers, use a ternary operator to determine which number is greater, and subtract the lower number and return the result, e.g. 10 > 5 ? 10 - 5 : 5 - 10.

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const a = 10;
const b = -20;

const difference = a > b ? a - b : b - a;

console.log(difference); // 👉️ 30

A ternary operator is very similar to an if/else statement.

If the condition evaluates to true, the expression to the left of the colon is returned, otherwise the expression to the right of the colon is returned.

Further Reading #

• Get the Max of two Numbers using JavaScript
• Check if a Value is NOT equal to 0 using JavaScript