public static long abs (long a)

Returns the absolute value of a long value. If the argument is not negative, the argument is returned. If the argument is negative, the negation of the argument is returned.

Note that if the argument is equal to the value of Long.MIN_VALUE, the most negative representable long value, the result is that same value, which is negative.

Parameters:
a    the argument whose absolute value is to be determined

Returns:  the absolute value of the argument.