Microsoft KB Archive/214279

= XL2000: Formula Returns Unexpected Positive Value =

Article ID: 214279

Article Last Modified on 9/27/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q214279





SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you use a minus sign (-) as a negation operator (for example, -1) in a formula, the negation operator has higher precedence than a binary operator. This order of precedence may mean that a formula returns a positive value when you expect it to return a negative value. For example, the formula

=-2^2

is evaluated as:

(-2)^2

The minus sign is evaluated as a negation operator. The formula returns a positive value, 4.



CAUSE
Microsoft Excel uses an order of calculation to evaluate operators in formulas. The order of evaluation of operators dictates that a minus sign (-) used as a negation operator (such as -1) is evaluated before all other operators. Because of this order, the formula

=-1^2

represents the value -1 squared, and returns the value 1, a positive value.



WORKAROUND
To preserve the order of operations in a formula, you can specify that the negative symbol in a formula apply to the entire formula by inserting parentheses around the numbers that you want to be evaluated first.

For example, if the earlier formula

=-2^2

is changed to

=-(2^2)

the formula returns a negative value, -4.

This has been the standard method for evaluating formulas since the first version of Microsoft Excel.

NOTE: This order of operations is different from the order of operations in Lotus 1-2-3.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

