function abs() {
  var set;
  if (abs.arguments.length == 1)
   {
    set = abs.arguments[0];
   }
  else if (abs.arguments.length == 0)
   {
    set = this.plainMC;
   }
  else
   {
    throw "abs(): " + abs.arguments.length + " arguments given; expected 0 or 1";
   }
  if (this.ind==this.isneg)
   return this.negate(set);
  return this.plus(set);
  }
Returns a <code>BigDecimal</code> whose value is the absolute value
of this <code>BigDecimal</code>.
<p>
If the current object is zero or positive, then the same result as
invoking the {@link #plus(MathContext)} method with the same
parameter is returned.
Otherwise, the same result as invoking the
{@link #negate(MathContext)} method with the same parameter is
returned.

@param  set The <code>MathContext</code> arithmetic settings.
@return     A <code>BigDecimal</code> whose value is the absolute
            value of this <code>BigDecimal</code>.
@stable ICU 2.0