excel 2003 subtract function

[Trebla]

Help item in Excel 2003
Subtract numbers in a cell
To do this task, use the - (minus sign) arithmetic operator.
For example, if you type the following formula in a cell:
10-5
The cell displays the following result:
5
I am trying to do the above in an Excel 2003 blank spreadsheet that has the
cell formatted as general. The result is not appearing as 5 but as a date 10
May or a large number 39823.00. Could you please assist in telling me what
the problem is?

 

[winnie123]

Hi,

Put an equal sign before

=10-5

 

[David Biddulph]

An Excel formula starts with an equals sign

10-5 is not a formula
=10-5 is a formula.

 

[Glenn]

Help item in Excel 2003
Subtract numbers in a cell
To do this task, use the - (minus sign) arithmetic operator.
For example, if you type the following formula in a cell:
10-5
The cell displays the following result:
5
I am trying to do the above in an Excel 2003 blank spreadsheet that has the
cell formatted as general. The result is not appearing as 5 but as a date 10
May or a large number 39823.00. Could you please assist in telling me what
the problem is?

This is what it says in my help file...

Subtract numbers

Type =10-5 in a cell to display the result 5.