How do I work with variances when there is a negative number?

G

Guest

If I do a SUM(B8:B9) and I have two negative numbers it adds them instead of
actually finding the difference between the two numbers, for example the
variance of -43 & -1, it wil give -44 when it should be -42. If I do an
=B8-B9 and cell B9 is negative, it takes two negatives to form a positive and
I still don't get the right answer, for example. 23-(-3) returns 26 instead
of a variance of 20, can someone please help me with how I can set an
equation for two cells variance. Thanks, Susan Hibbs
 
G

Guest

I tried that and it still returns the two #'s added together, this is what I
have. -21 operating margin and -17 planned or budgeted operating margin, the
variance should be 4, but it adds them together. Can you see what you think
about this. thanks,
 
A

arogg

Susan said:
I tried that and it still returns the two #'s added together, this is what I
have. -21 operating margin and -17 planned or budgeted operating margin, the
variance should be 4, but it adds them together. Can you see what you think
about this. thanks,
Click to expand...

Consider the following cases:

B8=23, B9=3
B8=23, B9=-3
B8=-23, B9=3
B8=-23, B9=-3

For each example, what do you want the answer to be?

Allan Rogg
 

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