excel datedif function

[rgnsuphc]

Im taking a class called computer applications and its on a program my instructer designed. (The answers have to match his or its wrong)
Its asking me to find a formula in c3 that displays the number of days after the beginning date, the date on row 3
b= dates c= days after

For far it looks like this, i have the correct datedif function for everything besides c3 ( should be 1) The formula i have for c3 is =DATEDIF($B$2,B3,"d"), but its telling me its wrong. All the other days have the same datedif formula, I don't understand why the first answer would be different from all the other ones

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 205pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=272 border=0><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 67pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3254" width=89><COL style="WIDTH: 68pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3291" width=90><COL style="WIDTH: 70pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3401" width=93><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; WIDTH: 67pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; HEIGHT: 15pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=89 height=20></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; WIDTH: 68pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=90> </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; WIDTH: 70pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=93> Days After</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; HEIGHT: 15pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=20>Beginning</TD><TD class=xl63 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>11/13/2007</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; HEIGHT: 15pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=20></TD><TD class=xl63 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>11/14/2007</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>1</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; HEIGHT: 15pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=20></TD><TD class=xl63 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>11/15/2007</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>2</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; HEIGHT: 15pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=20></TD><TD class=xl63 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>11/16/2007</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>3</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; HEIGHT: 15pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=20></TD><TD class=xl63 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>11/17/2007</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>4</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; HEIGHT: 15pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=20></TD><TD class=xl63 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>11/18/2007</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>5</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15pt" height=20><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; HEIGHT: 15pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=20></TD><TD class=xl63 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>11/19/2007</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" align=right>6</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[mgirvin]

Dear rgnsuphc,

DATEDIF function is known to have problems. See this link:

http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/showthr...=302028&page=2


Did the instructor say the formula, =DATEDIF($B$2,B3,"d"), was wrong or the answer, 1?


Since dates have Date Number format and a serial numbers underneath, you can just use the formula:

=$B$2-B3 and copy the formula down.


Serial number means that 1/1/1900 has the serial number 1, 1/2/1900 has the serial number 2, … 3/10/2009 has the serial number 39882.

 

[jasonb75]

In response to Mikes reply, try =B3-$B$2

Using Mikes formula will give the result as a -ve value

 

[rgnsuphc]

=B3-$B$2 worked, Thanks!

 

[mgirvin]

Dear jasonb75,

Thanks for the catch!

My dyslexic brain meant to say:

Number of days = end date – begin date (bigger number – smaller number).

Next time I will remember the rule: Always try in Excel, first, then copy and paste formula into Message Board!