Internal Functions

In the previous chapters, you have seen some internal functions: MsgBox(), InputBox(), LoadPicture(), etc. In the rest of today's lesson, you'll learn about some more internal functions.

The Numeric Functions

Int(number)
Fix(number)

The number can be any numeric literal, variable, or expression, including another embedded function. Both Int and Fix remove the fractional part of number and return the resulting integer value. In the following statements, the remark shows each function's return value.

int1 = Int(5.2)       ' 5
int2 = Fix(5.2)       ' 5
int3 = Int(-5.8)      ' -6
int4 = Fix(-5.8)      ' -5

The difference between Int and Fix is that if number is negative, Int returns the first negative integer less than or equal to number, whereas Fix returns the first negative integer greater than or equal to number. For example, Int converts -5.8 to -6, and Fix converts -5.8 to -5.

Abs(number)

The Abs() function returns a value of the same type that is passed to it specifying the absolute value of a number. The absolute value of a number is its unsigned magnitude. For example, ABS(-5) and ABS(5) both return 5.

The Sqr() function returns the square root of any positive number. In the following statements, the remark shows the return value.

int1 = Sqr(4)     ' 2
int2 = Sqr(36)    ' 6

Visual Basic supports several advanced scientific and trigonometric functions, but we will not discuss about them.