Strange Formula Results

[Miles]

Hello, can someone tell me why the result in Cell E1 isnt 0 as in cel
E2 on the attached spreadsheet.

By changing the values in A and B and re-entering the result from
into D you seem to sometimes get a value of 0 and sometimes thi
bizzare negative value. Collumn E is set to 'General' but when set t
'Number' it appears as 0 but subsequent formulas sont pick this up a
0??

It appears very strange, or am i just being thick?

Thanks
Mile

Attachment filename: book2.xls
Download attachment: http://www.excelforum.com/attachment.php?postid=44926

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
this has to do with Excel's internal representation of numbers (it uses
the binary system). Therefore in some cases you get very small
differences. Solutions:
- Round your formula results
- Format the numbers (but this small differences are carried through in
further calculations)
- In 'Tools - Options - Calculation' set the precision to a defined
decimal point