Microsoft KB Archive/819437

= VDB function returns different values for years and days in Excel =

Article ID: 819437

Article Last Modified on 2/5/2007

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Office Excel 2007
 * Microsoft Office Excel 2003
 * Microsoft Excel 2002 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel X for Mac
 * Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
 * Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh

-



SYMPTOMS
Suppose that you are using the VDB function to return the depreciation of an asset. If you use years for the starting and ending period values, you receive a different result than you receive if you use days.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs because the VDB function is not a linear function (although its name, Variable Declining Balance, suggests that it is). Because the amount depreciated each period is variable, the amounts in each period are different. If you change the starting and ending period values from years to days, the number of periods changes. Therefore, the depreciation amount for each period also changes.



MORE INFORMATION
You can use the VDB function to return the depreciation of an asset for any period that you specify, including partial periods. The following is an example of a VDB function:

VDB(cost,salvage,life,start_period,end_period)

The,  , and   values must be in the same units. The units that you use affect the value returned by the VDB function, even if the same time period is used.

For example, the following VDB function returns a value of $4,240.00:

=VDB(10000,0,10,0,2.5)

However, if you use the same time period, 2.5 years, with units of days instead of years, the following VDB function returns a value of $3,935.52:

=VDB(10000,0,3650,0,912.5)

Additional query words: XL2007 XL2002 XL2003



Keywords: kbprb KB819437

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.