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javaabsolute-value

Math.abs returns wrong value for Integer.Min_VALUE

This code:

System.out.println(Math.abs(Integer.MIN_VALUE));

Returns -2147483648

Should it not return the absolute value as 2147483648 ?

Solution

  • Integer.MIN_VALUE is -2147483648, but the highest value a 32 bit integer can contain is +2147483647. Attempting to represent +2147483648 in a 32 bit int will effectively "roll over" to -2147483648. This is because, when using signed integers, the two's complement binary representations of +2147483648 and -2147483648 are identical. This is not a problem, however, as +2147483648 is considered out of range.

    For a little more reading on this matter, you might want to check out the Wikipedia article on Two's complement.