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KeywordAbbreviationToken (hex)Version(s)Classification
SGNS{Shift+G}B41.0+Function

 Syntax 
SGNvalue )
 
ParametersTypeLegal Value(s)Default ValueNote(s)
valueNumeric
any
 
ReturnsTypeValue(s)Note(s)
resultFloating-point
-1, 0, +1
 
 Purpose 
Calculate the arithmetic sign of a number.

 
 Remarks 
The SGN function simply returns a result telling if the original value was positive (result = +1), negative (result = -1), or nuetral (result = 0); in particular it discards the magnitude of the original value.  This is useful because multiplying (a presumably different value) by +1 or -1 won't change the magnitude, only (possibly) the sign.  Useful for polar to rectangular conversion (among other things).
 
Not to be confused with the triginometric sine, which is quite different!
 
You will get TYPE MISMATCH ERROR with a string value.
 
 Compare With 
<, >
 
 Contrast With 
 
 See Also 
ATN, SQR 

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