A MYSTERY...

WFS

New Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2004
Messages
22
Hello,

We have found a mystery in an Excel-formula : the result displayed on screen is DIFFERENT from the formula result displayed in the formula box, when the formula is edited. :oops:
The result on screen is FALSE, while the formula result in the "Edit formula" is CORRECT !
Example :
These are the formulas and values entered in the cells :

0,04 0,03 0,05 0,06
=1+B2 =1+C2 =1+D2 =1+E2
=PRODUCT(B3:E3)
=PRODUCT(1+B2:E2)

On screen :

4% 3% 5% 6%
104% 103% 105% 106%
1,192246
104%

The first formula "=PRODUCT(B3:E3)" is OK. The second formula "=PRODUCT(1+B2:E2)" gives a result on screen which is equal to "=PRODUCT(1+B2)" but when clicking on the "=" (Edit Formula) in the formula toolbar, the displayed formula result is OK, equal to (1+4%) *(1+3%) * (1+5%) *(1+6%) = 1,192246.
This problem doesn't occur when the SUMPRODUCT-function is used on the same data.

Can anyone explain this mystery to us...

Many thanks !
 

Excel Facts

Which Excel functions can ignore hidden rows?
The SUBTOTAL and AGGREGATE functions ignore hidden rows. AGGREGATE can also exclude error cells and more.
The formula PRODUCT(1+B2:B5) is an array formula and you must use CTRL-SHIFT-ENTER rather than ENTER.
 
Upvote 0
I know the use of CTRL-SHIFT-ENTER in array-formulas, but the question is more like : how it is possible that the formula result displayed when entering the formula is different from the result on screen...? What happens in Excel? What's his interpretation...?

WFS
 
Upvote 0
When you click th "=" sign and get the box showing the inputs, etc and it shows the result, this assumes that since you are using an array, you will confirm it with Ctrl-Shift-Enter and then when you don't, you get the result from the first entry in the formula.
 
Upvote 0

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