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using =sum() to get a percentage

  1. #1

    using =sum() to get a percentage

    I recently received a spreadsheet that contained =sum(a1/a2)-1+1. The
    cell containing the formula was formatted to percentage. I was
    wondering why use =sum()-1+1 when +a1/a2 would render the same result
    (provided the cell is formatted to percentage)? Thank you


  2. #2
    Forum Contributor
    Join Date
    06-01-2006
    Posts
    324
    the +1 and -1 cancel each other out... so... no reason...
    Google is your best friend!

  3. #3
    Ardus Petus
    Guest

    Re: using =sum() to get a percentage

    The author of the workbook you received is a pervert.

    :-)

    --
    AP

    <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de news:
    [email protected]...
    >I recently received a spreadsheet that contained =sum(a1/a2)-1+1. The
    > cell containing the formula was formatted to percentage. I was
    > wondering why use =sum()-1+1 when +a1/a2 would render the same result
    > (provided the cell is formatted to percentage)? Thank you
    >




  4. #4
    Kevin Vaughn
    Guest

    RE: using =sum() to get a percentage

    I guess whoever created the formula was just throwing things out there to see
    what sticks. Sum isn't needed and -1 +1 would cancel out. I would probably
    change it to something like =if(a2 = 0, 0, a1/a2)
    --
    Kevin Vaughn


    "[email protected]" wrote:

    > I recently received a spreadsheet that contained =sum(a1/a2)-1+1. The
    > cell containing the formula was formatted to percentage. I was
    > wondering why use =sum()-1+1 when +a1/a2 would render the same result
    > (provided the cell is formatted to percentage)? Thank you
    >
    >


  5. #5

    Re: using =sum() to get a percentage

    [email protected] wrote:
    > I recently received a spreadsheet that contained =sum(a1/a2)-1+1. The
    > cell containing the formula was formatted to percentage. I was
    > wondering why use =sum()-1+1 when +a1/a2 would render the same result
    > (provided the cell is formatted to percentage)?


    I cannot explain why anyone would do -1+1. In some (other)
    circumstances, perhaps it might convert text to numeric (just a guess);
    but that does not seem necessary here. And many people seem put all of
    their numeric expressions inside =SUM(...). When I asked this forum
    why, I got answers ranging from "it don't hurt, so don't fix it" to
    silly rationalizations. The bottom line: only someone who does not
    know what they are doing would do either, IMHO. It is good that you
    know enough to realize that such expressions are dubious.


  6. #6
    Bob Phillips
    Guest

    Re: using =sum() to get a percentage

    No reason, total overkill.

    --

    HTH

    Bob Phillips

    (replace xxxx in the email address with gmail if mailing direct)

    <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > I recently received a spreadsheet that contained =sum(a1/a2)-1+1. The
    > cell containing the formula was formatted to percentage. I was
    > wondering why use =sum()-1+1 when +a1/a2 would render the same result
    > (provided the cell is formatted to percentage)? Thank you
    >




  7. #7
    Bob Phillips
    Guest

    Re: using =sum() to get a percentage

    Tad harsh don't you think?

    --

    HTH

    Bob Phillips

    (replace xxxx in the email address with gmail if mailing direct)

    "Ardus Petus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > The author of the workbook you received is a pervert.
    >
    > :-)
    >
    > --
    > AP
    >
    > <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de news:
    > [email protected]...
    > >I recently received a spreadsheet that contained =sum(a1/a2)-1+1. The
    > > cell containing the formula was formatted to percentage. I was
    > > wondering why use =sum()-1+1 when +a1/a2 would render the same result
    > > (provided the cell is formatted to percentage)? Thank you
    > >

    >
    >




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