Math formula not working, yet calc can process it

**Modify_inc** · 12-15-2010, 05:20 PM

I'm having trouble with a simple formula in Excel. Here is the gist of it:

Lets say G12 is 780.99

I want to divide that by 3 which gives me 260.33.

I then want to take that number (260.33) and subtract it from G12 which would give me 520.66 (need this to be postive yet my formula causes it to compute in the wrong order.)

and then divide that by 3 which would output my final total of 173.55.

Easy enough to do using a calclator but I can't for the life of me make it work in Excel.

Here is an example of what I have tried:

=(G12/3) - G12/3

Using =(G12/3) - G12 I get -520.66 but when I put the divide by 3, I get 0. Is this because excel doesn't divide negative numbers? How can I make the -520.66 a postive number if that is the issue? Even if it's not I still need it to be a postive number.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

**NBVC** · 12-15-2010, 05:24 PM

Try:

=(G12-(G12/3))/3

**Modify_inc** · 12-15-2010, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by NBVC

Try:

=(G12-(G12/3))/3

you guys amaze me!!

So can you break that down, how did you know where to put the parentheses? I guess I really need to read up on the rules of parentheses and brackets etc.