Adding two columns

[HCRSnyder]

I have 2 columns that must be added. in some instances there are two negative values in both columns in others a positive and a negative. How do I get the columns to add correctly and display a negative value, if for example two negatives are being added.

 

[HCRSnyder]

Oops -- wrote it wrong -- two columns that must be subtracted from one another

 

[onlyadrafter]

Hello

isn't it just =A1-B1

 

[mortgageman]

Could you explain your question a bit more? Excel does subtract two numbers (negative or postive) "correctly"

Gene, "The Mortgage Man", Klein

 

[brian.wethington]

I have 2 columns that must be added. in some instances there are two negative values in both columns in others a positive and a negative. How do I get the columns to add correctly and display a negative value, if for example two negatives are being added.

Oops -- wrote it wrong -- two columns that must be subtracted from one another

I find this to be somewhat confusing. Could you provide some examples of the entries and your desired results. Perhaps others can understand this.

 

[HCRSnyder]

Hey -- I figured it out. Since I have negative and positive numbers in any sort of combination in a column, I used this
=IF(AND(A2>0,B2>0),A2-B2,A2+B2)

That ensures that whether I subtract a negative from a negative or a positive from a negative or a negative from a positive, I get the correct value (Pos or Neg) in the answer field.

Maybe this will help others. Actually one of the IT people popped by my desk and helped me out.

 

[mortgageman]

Hey -- I figured it out. Since I have negative and positive numbers in any sort of combination in a column, I used this
=IF(AND(A2>0,B2>0),A2-B2,A2+B2)

That ensures that whether I subtract a negative from a negative or a positive from a negative or a negative from a positive, I get the correct value (Pos or Neg) in the answer field.

Maybe this will help others. Actually one of the IT people popped by my desk and helped me out.

Your formula is wrong. It will only hurt others. If, for example, you put
-5 in a2 and -1 in b2, then your formula gets -6 when it should get -4.

simply a2-b2 is correct and all you need.

Gene, "The Mortgage Man", Klein