Divide by Zero

[hal1543]

I have a worksheet:

Column B is a value for year 2002
Column C is a value for year 2001
Column D is a percentage of increase or decrease between the two years.

If both B & C are equal to zero I want
zero in column D, otherwise I want the percent of increase or decrease versus year 2001. In no instance to I want a Divide by Zero error.

thanks,

[ This Message was edited by: hal1543 on 2002-05-02 06:54 ]

[Al Chara]

Try something with the following format:

=IF(A1=B1,0,B1/A1)

[hal1543]

Thanks Al,

I tried your formula, but if A is greater
than zero and B is = zero, I'm getting that
dredded Divide by Zero error.

Hal

[NateO]

Give this a whirl:

=IF(c1=0,0,b1/c1)

_________________
Cheers, NateO

[ This Message was edited by: NateO on 2002-05-02 10:57 ]

[phiore]

how about
=if(or(b1=0,c1=0),0,b1/c1)
this way, if either one is zero, you get a zero in return.

[NateO]

Here's where we need to step back from Excel and remember our basic arithmetic. If B1 is zero and you divide this by a number greater than zero, the solution is always zero, no need to extend the if statement.

[Aladin Akyurek]

Depending on what you divide by what, I'd use Nate's suggestion (a bit shortened):

=IF(C1,B1/C1,0)

or

=IF(B1,C1/B1,0)

Aladin