Order of Formula?

[suertetres]

This may be more of a math rule question and I'm absolutely stumped on how to write the formula. I'm trying Multiple a cell by 4 then subtract it from another cell. For example, A1 is 778 and A2 is 3122. I'm trying to multiply A1 by 4 and then subtract that from A2. 778x4-3122. My current formula is =A2-A1*4. The answer it gives me is 10, but it should be zero. Can someone help me correct my formula?

 

[Coyotex3]

You need to use a parentheses in order to get excel to calculate the multiplication first.

(A1*4) etc.

 

[suertetres]

You need to use a parentheses in order to get excel to calculate the multiplication first.

(A1*4) etc.

I tried this, my formula with the parenthesis was =a2-(a1*4) and it still returns the result of 10 instead of 0

 

[Coyotex3]

I tried this, my formula with the parenthesis was =a2-(a1*4) and it still returns the result of 10 instead of 0

Hmmm. This formula gives me an answer of 10

=A2-(A1*4)

Why would it be 0 though? It should be 10. 778 * 4 = 3112. Cell A2 has 3122. 3122-3112 = 10.

 

[suertetres]

Hmmm. This formula gives me an answer of 10

=A2-(A1*4)

Exactly, it should be zero though, 778x4 is 3112. I'm trying to multiple A1 by 4, so 778*4 then subtract that answer from A2 which is 3112. It should be zero but i keep getting 10.

 

[Joe4]

You have a typo.

10 IS the correct answer.
If A1 was 3112 and NOT 3122, it would be 0.

 

[suertetres]

You have a typo.

10 IS the correct answer.
If A1 was 3112 and NOT 3122, it would be 0.

WOW- thank you. I've been trying to figure this out far too long for it to be that simple. Thank you, and embarrassingly I'll exit stage left now

 

[Joe4]

LOL! No worries! It happens to all of us, at one point or another.
Sometimes you just got to step away from a problem for a while, or have a second set of eyes look at it!

 

[Coyotex3]

Agree with @Joe4! It happens to the best of us!

 

[Joe4]

I cannot tell you how many times I have banged my head-up against the wall trying to solve a programming problem, and put it down for the day.
And then I look at it the next morning, and figure it out right away, and it is almost ALWAYS a typo.
I think after looking at a problem for too long, we start to see what we want instead of what is really there!