topic Q about absolute value in SAS Data Science

Q about absolute value

Jingsi — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:09:06 GMT

A starter SAS user got a little confused on functions and procedures. Thanks for bearing me on this.

Suppose that I have a string of numbers of interval ratio from a survey, but here is the problem. I don't know how to sort it by absolute value. Should I create a variable to contain these absolute values in procedures step or I can have other solutions by using some functions?

Q about absolute value

art297 — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:17:15 GMT

You've probably posted this in the wrong forum but you should post more info, anyhow, in order for others to know what you are seeking. A small example of your data would help as well as an explanation of what you would ultimately like to accomplish with the data.

Q about absolute value

Jingsi — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:29:17 GMT

For example, I have some numbers gained from the individual survey such as -5 -7 3 -1 4 -6 1 ... and I want to sort them by the power of absolute values then I could chose to display the survey question items by this order.

Q about absolute value

art297 — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:34:47 GMT

Is the following what you are looking to do?

data have;

input x;

cards;

-5

-7

-1

;

proc sql noprint;

create table want as

select x

from have

order by abs(x)

;

quit;

Q about absolute value

Jingsi — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:37:07 GMT

Yes. Thank you so much for helping me out.