I have a set $S=\{-3,-1,2,5\}$ and I know with $\mbox{abs}(S)$ I could get minimun distance from $0$. But problem is that I need to preserve sign. So I need to know that exactly $-1$ is the minimum value.
By computing this can be done by getting the index of minimum value and retrieving value from $S$ baded on that index.
Is there a math notation for this procedure. And the most important, is the other algebraic method for my problem?