ABS and MOD in MySQL - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to get the absolute value of -15.

MySQL

SELECT [1](-15) AS absolute_value;

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AMOD

BROUND

CSQRT

DABS

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using MOD instead of ABS, which calculates remainder, not absolute value.

Using SQRT which calculates square root, not absolute value.

The ABS function returns the absolute value of a number, so ABS(-15) returns 15.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to find the remainder when 29 is divided by 5.

MySQL

SELECT [1](29, 5) AS remainder;

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AABS

BDIV

CMOD

DROUND

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using ABS which returns absolute value, not remainder.

Using DIV which returns integer division result, not remainder.

The MOD function returns the remainder of division, so MOD(29, 5) returns 4.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to correctly get the absolute value of a column named 'score'.

MySQL

SELECT [1](score) FROM results;

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AABS

BROUND

CSQRT

DMOD

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using MOD which calculates remainder, not absolute value.

Using SQRT which calculates square root, not absolute value.

Use ABS to get the absolute value of the 'score' column.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to calculate the absolute value of the remainder when 17 is divided by 4.

MySQL

SELECT [1]([2](17, 4)) AS result;

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AABS

BMOD

CROUND

DSQRT

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Reversing the order of functions.

Using SQRT or ROUND instead of ABS.

First, MOD(17, 4) calculates the remainder (1), then ABS returns its absolute value (1).

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to select the absolute value of the remainder when the column 'value' is divided by 3.

MySQL

SELECT [1]([2]([3], 3)) AS abs_mod FROM data;

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AABS

BMOD

Cvalue

DROUND

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using ROUND instead of MOD or ABS.

Using a wrong column name.

MOD(value, 3) calculates remainder, ABS returns absolute value of that remainder.

Practice

1. What does the ABS function do in MySQL?

easy

A. Returns the positive value of a number

B. Returns the remainder of a division

C. Returns the square root of a number

D. Returns the largest number in a column

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of ABS

   The ABS function converts any number to its positive equivalent, removing any negative sign.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   MOD returns remainder, SQRT returns square root, and MAX returns largest value, so they are incorrect.

3. Final Answer:

   Returns the positive value of a number -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   ABS(-5) = 5 [OK]

Hint: ABS always makes numbers positive, no matter the sign [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing ABS with MOD function
• Thinking ABS returns square root
• Assuming ABS finds max value

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to get the remainder of 17 divided by 5 in MySQL?

easy

A. SELECT 17 / 5;

B. SELECT ABS(17, 5);

C. SELECT REMAINDER(17, 5);

D. SELECT MOD(17, 5);

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct function for remainder

   MOD is the MySQL function that returns the remainder after division.

2. Step 2: Check syntax correctness

   MOD takes two arguments: dividend and divisor. '/' operator performs division (17/5 = 3.4), ABS takes one argument, REMAINDER is not a MySQL function.

3. Final Answer:

   SELECT MOD(17, 5); -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   MOD(17, 5) = 2 [OK]

Hint: Use MOD(a, b) to get remainder in MySQL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using ABS instead of MOD for remainder
• Trying to use '/' operator for remainder
• Using non-existent REMAINDER function

3. What is the output of this query?

SELECT ABS(-12) AS abs_val, MOD(29, 6) AS mod_val;

medium

A. abs_val = 12, mod_val = 5

B. abs_val = -12, mod_val = 5

C. abs_val = 12, mod_val = 23

D. abs_val = -12, mod_val = 23

Solution

1. Step 1: Calculate ABS(-12)

   ABS returns the positive value, so ABS(-12) = 12.

2. Step 2: Calculate MOD(29, 6)

   29 divided by 6 is 4 remainder 5, so MOD(29, 6) = 5.

3. Final Answer:

   abs_val = 12, mod_val = 5 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   ABS(-12) = 12, MOD(29,6) = 5 [OK]

Hint: ABS removes sign; MOD gives remainder after division [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting ABS makes negative positive
• Mixing up MOD result with division quotient
• Assuming MOD returns division result

4. Identify the error in this MySQL query:

SELECT ABS(-7, 3), MOD(10);

medium

A. Both functions are used correctly

B. ABS function has too many arguments; MOD function missing second argument

C. ABS function missing second argument; MOD function has too many arguments

D. MOD function should be ABS

Solution

1. Step 1: Check ABS function arguments

   ABS takes only one argument, but here it has two (-7, 3), which is incorrect.

2. Step 2: Check MOD function arguments

   MOD requires two arguments, but only one (10) is provided, so it's missing the second argument.

3. Final Answer:

   ABS function has too many arguments; MOD function missing second argument -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   ABS(-7) valid; MOD(10, x) needs two args [OK]

Hint: ABS needs 1 arg; MOD needs 2 args [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing multiple arguments to ABS
• Using MOD with only one argument
• Assuming MOD can be called like ABS

5. You want to select all rows from a table numbers where the absolute value of the column val divided by 4 leaves a remainder of 1. Which query correctly achieves this?

hard

A. SELECT * FROM numbers WHERE ABS(MOD(val, 4)) = 1;

B. SELECT * FROM numbers WHERE MOD(val, 4) = 1;

C. SELECT * FROM numbers WHERE MOD(ABS(val), 4) = 1;

D. SELECT * FROM numbers WHERE ABS(val) / 4 = 1;

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the condition

   We want the remainder after dividing the absolute value of val by 4 to be 1.

2. Step 2: Analyze each option

   SELECT * FROM numbers WHERE MOD(val, 4) = 1; uses val directly, ignoring absolute value. SELECT * FROM numbers WHERE MOD(ABS(val), 4) = 1; correctly applies ABS(val) inside MOD. SELECT * FROM numbers WHERE ABS(MOD(val, 4)) = 1; applies ABS after MOD, which can give wrong results if val is negative. SELECT * FROM numbers WHERE ABS(val) / 4 = 1; uses '/' which performs division, not remainder.

3. Final Answer:

   SELECT * FROM numbers WHERE MOD(ABS(val), 4) = 1; -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   MOD(ABS(val), 4) = 1 filters correctly [OK]

Hint: Apply ABS inside MOD to get remainder of positive value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Applying ABS after MOD instead of before
• Using '/' operator for remainder
• Ignoring absolute value in condition