Negative Value is adding on to Positive value for some reason?

[Deano478]

Hi Community,

This might be a super simple one but my maths is simply failing me big time.

Basically I have two values a negative value and a positive value and I need to subtract the negative value from the positive value, however when I subtract them the negative value is being added on to the Positive value and increasing it.

I have no idea how to fix this so any help would be terrific,

cheers everyone

Here is a a sample of the two values and the formula I have tried to use:

Formula: [Value 2]-[Value 1]

Code	CompanyName	Value 1	Value 2	Total	2021
ABC021_C	Test Company Limited 1	-750	2000	2750	TRUE

[BS_THE_ANALYST · Accepted solution]

Reason: you're trying to subtract a negative number. Recall: x--y = x+y.

You could solve your issue by doing the following [Value2]-abs([Value1]).

This will make Value 1 positive. So rather than 2000 - (-750), it will be 2000 - (750)

[FinnCharlton]

Subtracting a negative number from X increases the value of X. Alteryx is calculating the formula correctly. You might want to add the numbers together instead? 

[Deano478]

@BS_THE_ANALYST  WOW I'm genuinely embarrassed by my maths cheers for that the issue is fixed now 

[binuacs]

@Deano478 

[BS_THE_ANALYST]

If you are always trying to find the 'total' between the two columns. Just add them together. 

i.e.

val1: 4000  val2: 3000 total = 7000 -> 4000+3000

val1: 4000 val2: -3000 total = 1000 -> 4000+-3000 

val1: -4000 val2: -3000 total = -7000 -> -4000+-3000 

val1: -4000 val2: 3000 total = -1000 -> -4000 + 3000 

All possibilities covered so you can rest assured adding the two columns will always return the total @Deano478 

[Deano478]

@BS_THE_ANALYST  Much appreciated i never knew about the ABS function so I was sat here struggling so looks like I learned something new today 

[Deano478]

hey again @BS_THE_ANALYST  just one more question for you I was working away using the ABS function and one of my calculations is:

Value1: 200 

Value2: 8660

But when I try to subtract them using: [Value2]-ABS([Value1]) it does nothing in this case for some reason? 

heres a snippet of the output:

[Deano478]

@BS_THE_ANALYST  Please ignore my last reply my apologies 

[BS_THE_ANALYST]

Hi @Deano478 .. so to clarify what the 'ABS' function is doing. It takes any value, and makes it positive! 

So if you do this -> ABS(-400) it will pop out 400 as the result

So if you do this -> ABS(400) it will pop out 400 as the result

I think you were expecting to see the number 9060 as your result here because you're trying to work out the TOTAL;

i.e.: 

To work out the total, just do this [Value2]+[Value1]. 

Remember, the ABS function is just to make a number positive! I hope that makes sense? Adding negatives and subtracting negative numbers can be mind boggling!