# abs() vs abs\[\] for fby

**URL:** <https://forum.kx.com/t/abs-vs-abs-for-fby/13920>\
**Category:** Community Support\
**Tags:** imported, kdb-and-q\
**Created:** [May 17, 2024, 2:49am UTC](https://forum.kx.com/t/abs-vs-abs-for-fby/13920 "2024-05-17T02:49:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dang30.swati](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forum.kx.com/dang30.swati/32/128_2.png) [@dang30.swati](https://forum.kx.com/u/dang30.swati)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 2:49am UTC](https://forum.kx.com/t/abs-vs-abs-for-fby/13920/1 "2024-05-17T02:49:53Z")

</div>

[https://learninghub.kx.com/forums/topic/abs-vs-abs-for-fby](https://learninghub.kx.com/forums/topic/abs-vs-abs-for-fby)

May I ask how does abs() differs from abs[] in a select statement using fby clause? Thank you!

```
q)tab:([] sym:`g1`g3`g1`g1`g2`g3; price:-2.5 2 -0.5 -0.2 3 4)

q)tab

sym price

---------

g1 -2.5

g3 2

g1 -0.5

g1 -0.2

g2 3

g3 4

q)select from tab where abs(price)=({abs max x};price) fby sym

'type

[0] select from tab where abs(price)=({abs max x};price) fby sym

^

q)
```