Microsoft KB Archive/101456

Microsoft Knowledge Base

Excel: Probability Functions Return #NUM! with Large Numbers

Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
Article ID: Q101456

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 4.0

In Microsoft Excel version 4.0, probability functions such as PERMUT() and COMBIN() may return a #NUM! error value if the solution exceeds 9.99999999999999E307, Microsoft Excel's largest allowed positive number. Probability functions that are calculated using factorials can quickly exceed this number.

Other functions that may produce this same error include: BINOMDIST(), HYPGEOMDIST(), and NEGBINOMDIST(). (All of these functions are based on the COMBIN() function.)

NOTE: In the HYPGEOMDIST the upper limit of the second argument (number_sample) is 171.

REFERENCES

"Function Reference," version 4.0, pages 38-39, 59-60, 224-225, 284,326

KBCategory: kbusage KBSubcategory: Additional reference words: 5.00 4.00 4.0 4.0a 4.00a THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Last reviewed: September 12, 1996 ©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.