Absolute value

[Matthew DeMichele]

I'm having trouble generating a variable using the absolute value of another variable. I want to indicate if population has changed (increased or decreased) by 5%. I'm able to generate an indicator for 5% increase but not decrease using the code below.

First, I calculated 5% (per5) of the total end of year population (totend). Second, I generated an indicator variable if per5 is greater or equal to the difference in totals (diffb). I'm sure it is obvious that this only creates a variable indicating a 5% increase but I also want to indicate decrease. I've experimented with the absolute values function, but I had no luck.

gen per5= .05*totend
gen change5=1 if (diffb>=per5)

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for help.

[Jeph Herrin]

gen change5=abs(diffb)/totend > 0.05

hth,
Jeph

[Matthew DeMichele]

Thanks Jeph! It worked.

[Matthew DeMichele]

I have a follow-up question for computing with absolute values. I would like to calculate means and ranges of absolute values. Any suggestions on how to do this? thanks.

[ben earnhart]

Hmmm... given that you have a variable/variables with the absolute value, is there any reason you can't just use the -summarize- command on the new variable(s)? or am I missing something?

[Nick Cox]

Ben is right. Everything is easy once you create a new variable, but there's no other way.

[Matthew DeMichele]

Okay. I see. thanks.