comparing trends of numbers in a column

[ericel]

Hi there,

I have a series of numbers, some positive and some negative.

-400
400
500
600
-300
-500
400
500
600
0
400
-600
700
-800
-300
500
600
0
300

A series of consecutive positive numbers is an uptrend, and a series of consecutive negative numbers is a down trend. A "0" continues the established trend. The trend is cumulative.

I need to compare the current trend to the previous trend.

If the current trend is greater than the previous trend the result is a "+", and if it is less, then it is a "-". The correct result would be...

-400
400
600 +
500 +
-500
-300
400
600 +
500 +
0 +
400 +
-600
700 +
-800 -
-300 -
500
600
0
300 +

The trend lengths will not be consistent, so I am having trouble comparing one trend against another to determine the "+" or "-" result I am after. Is there a way to compare trends of numbers?

 

[iliace]

Not really clear, because your output is inconsistent. You have:

500 +
-500
-300

but no minus next to -300. You have:

700 +
-800 -
-300 -

with a minus next to -800 where, based on your question, there should not be one. Also, you treat your first zero as positive but not the second. And, the third from last 600 should have a +, again based on the question.

Please clarify.

 

[ericel]

Hi iliace, thanks for the reply. I will try to clarify.


500 +
-500
-300

The trends are cumulative. So -300 does not get a "-" because the negative down trend it is in currently only equals -800 (-500+(-300)=-800) and that is not greater than the previous up trend (400+600+500=1500).

700 +
-800 -
-300 -

In this part, the down trend of -800 is greater than the previous up trend of 700, and that is why it get's a "-".

The first zero is part of an up trend (400+500+600+0=1500), and that is greater than the previous down trend (-300+(-500)=-800). That is why it get's a "+" designation.

The second zero is also part of an up trend (500+600+0=1100), but it is not greater than the previous down trend (-800+(-300)=-1100). In this case the trends are only equal and so therefore no designation is assigned.

The third from the last 600 does not get a positive designation either for the same reason as the second zero.

I hope that helps clear up the results I am after.