Word: Missing Parentheses in Column Calculation Example
PSS ID Number: Q70012 Article last modified on 11-02-1994
5.00 5.50 6.00
MS-DOS
SUMMARY
Page 490 of the “Using Microsoft Word” version 5.00 manual and page 510 of the “Using Microsoft Word” version 5.50 manual contain a figure illustrating the calculation of a column of numbers within a table that is not correct. To sum the first four figures in the column before multiplying them by 3.5, you must place them within parentheses.
Incorrect Correct
--------- -------
Portland Portland
$1734.55 ($1734.55
591.65 591.65
3310.33 3310.33
577.23 577.23)
* 3.5 * 3.5
======== ==========
As shown in manual, this example would be: 7656.84
The correct answer is: 21748.16
Note: In addition to including parentheses, you need to select the parentheses along with the figures before calculating the column.
MORE INFORMATION
Without a parenthesis before the first and after the last figure you want to sum, Word will not sum those four figures before multiplying the result by 3.5; only the fourth figure will be multiplied by 3.5 in the incorrect example above.
When there are multiple calculations in a single expression, Word calculates in the following order:
- Expressions in parentheses
- Percentages
- Multiplication or division
- Addition or subtraction
Doing arithmetic in a row in Word is calculated the same as when it is in a column. For example:
($1734.55 + 591.65 + 3310.33 + 577.23) * 3.5 = 21748.16
Reference(s):
“Using Microsoft Word.” Version 5.00. Page 487. “Using Microsoft Word.” Version 5.50. Page 507.
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============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.
