parentheses and order

[amartino44]

Hello. I can never understand the parentheses rules in excel, especially for more complicated calculations.

Here is an example:

=((E11-E12)*E10-E13)*(1-E14)+E9*E14

Why can't I write =(E11-E12)*(E10-E13)*(1-E14)+E9*E14

[MrShorty]

The evaluate formula tool might be useful for seeing how Excel is calculating a formula: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...483.aspx?CTT=1

The two expressions you give are not algebraically equivalent. Using the above tool to follow the calculation should help you see where they are different. In the first calculation, you multiply e10 by the difference of e11 and e12, then subtract e13. In the second calculation, you take the difference of e11 and e12, then the difference of e10 and e13, then multiply these two differences.

[martindwilson]

they are diferent assume all cells =2

=((E11-E12)*E10-E13)*(1-E14)+E9*E14
=((2-2)*2-2)*(1-2)+(2*2)
order of operations in maths and excel
means division ans multiplication are done before any subtraction or addition but the bits inside() are done first
so that breaks down to
=((0)*2-2)*(1-2)+(2*2)

=(0-2)*(1-2)+(2*2)
=-2*-1+4
=2+4
=6
the other is
=(E11-E12)*(E10-E13)*(1-E14)+(E9*E14)
=(2-2)*(2-2)*(1-2)+(2*2)
=0*0*-1+4
=0+4
=4