Why not use Mathf.Abs() and why put a const in Update()?

[AdamT]

In line 26 of the code in the video you’ve elected to use:

movementFactor = (rawSinWave + 1f) / 2f;

Why not use the Mathf.Abs() function to get the absolute value?

movementFactor = Mathf.Abs(rawSinWave);

For those who don’t know, an absolute value is always the positive value of the input for example:
if x = 1, the absolute value will be 1. If x = -1, the absolute value is still 1.

Also, a constant shouldn’t be declared in Update(). Why is it not up with the other variable declarations?

[Nina]

Hi @AdamT,

Welcome to our community!

That’s an interesting question. Let’s take a look at the difference between the two versions. I usually use https://www.desmos.com/ to visualise graphs.

Blue is Rick’s function, red yours:

As you can see, the waves are not the same, thus the movement will look different. Test your solution. Maybe you like that movement better. In the end, it’s a matter of personal preference.

Feel free to test the functions yourself on Desmos.

y=\frac{\left(\sin x+1\right)}{2} (Rick’s)
y=\operatorname{abs}\left(\sin\left(x\right)\right) (yours)

Maybe this link works.

Did this help?

---

See also:

• Forum User Guides : How to mark a topic as solved

[AdamT]

Ah! Thank you so much. The graph helped visually see the difference too, much appreciated.

[Nina]

I’m glad I could help.