Generating new variables

[man singh]

Hello!
so in my dataset for people belonging to different groups [a, b, c, d] have scored marks on a test.
now the cut off for clearing this test is different for each of the groups.
how can i generate a new variable that records the distance from cutoff for each of these - -

new variable = Cutoff - total marks

[Carlo Lazzaro]

Man:
without data example from your side, a tentative reply may be:

. sysuse auto.dta
(1978 automobile data)

. g price_cutoff=2500

. g wanted= price_cutoff-price

 . list make foreign price price_cutoff wanted in 1/10

     +-------------------------------------------------------+
     | make             foreign    price   price_~f   wanted |
     |-------------------------------------------------------|
  1. | AMC Concord     Domestic    4,099       2500    -1599 |
  2. | AMC Pacer       Domestic    4,749       2500    -2249 |
  3. | AMC Spirit      Domestic    3,799       2500    -1299 |
  4. | Buick Century   Domestic    4,816       2500    -2316 |
  5. | Buick Electra   Domestic    7,827       2500    -5327 |
     |-------------------------------------------------------|
  6. | Buick LeSabre   Domestic    5,788       2500    -3288 |
  7. | Buick Opel      Domestic    4,453       2500    -1953 |
  8. | Buick Regal     Domestic    5,189       2500    -2689 |
  9. | Buick Riviera   Domestic   10,372       2500    -7872 |
 10. | Buick Skylark   Domestic    4,082       2500    -1582 |
     +-------------------------------------------------------+

. 



.

[man singh]

Got it,
thanks so much Carlo!