Odtnhj

I mean this | | not this %.
Like let's say that I've got two integers x and y and and integer z.
Now

z = x - y

Is there a way to express |z| so that if z is positive it stays positive and if z is negative it's turnt into its opposite? I don't mean to express it with an if, just a mathematical equation, symbol or something like that.

You want the abs() function, provided in the math.h header.

Example:

z = abs(x - y);

If no abs() function, second way (without branching):

 int num;

 printf("Enter num: ");
 scanf("%d", &num);
 printf("Abs=%dn", num*(1+(num<0)*-2));

EDIT after comment from StoryTeller:

The trick works because a conditional test, like "<", returns 0 (for false) or 1 (for true). We can deploy this returned number in a more complex expression. In this case, we want an expression which returns 1 or -1. If the number num is NOT less than 0, i.e. is not negative, "num<0" returns 0 and the expression gives 1+(-2*0) = 1. The number num is returned unmodified. If num IS less than 0, i.e. it is negative, the expression returns -1: 1 + (-2*TRUE), where TRUE's value is 1.

Having now 1 or -1 depending on num being negative, a simple multiplication inverts the sign of num, when needed.