if format problem

W

wtrbb

Hi

am trying to calculate variances in a spreadsheet and am running across a
problem with the formula returning the wrong value for the cell, for instance
returning a negative variance when in fact it is a positive variance. i'v
added another hidden column with the absolute value and would like a formula
that would show the same value (positive or negative) for the percentage as
what is displayed in that adjacent cell - any ideas?
 
P

Pete_UK

Why not put ABS( ... ) around the formula you currently have, so it
will always show a positive value?

Hope this helps.

Pete
 
W

wtrbb

mmm - if it were only that simple! sometimes the variance is negative, though
- i'm running into the problem with the formulas that are computing negatives
to negatives and pos/neg (where the variance should be a positive one, but
returns a negative value instead)

(b4-c4)/c4
 
N

Niek Otten

Please give examples of your data, your formulas, what you require as results and what you get instead

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel


| mmm - if it were only that simple! sometimes the variance is negative, though
| - i'm running into the problem with the formulas that are computing negatives
| to negatives and pos/neg (where the variance should be a positive one, but
| returns a negative value instead)
|
| (b4-c4)/c4
| --
| wtrbb
|
|
| "Pete_UK" wrote:
|
| > Why not put ABS( ... ) around the formula you currently have, so it
| > will always show a positive value?
| >
| > Hope this helps.
| >
| > Pete
| >
| > > Hi
| > >
| > > am trying to calculate variances in a spreadsheet and am running across a
| > > problem with the formula returning the wrong value for the cell, for instance
| > > returning a negative variance when in fact it is a positive variance. i'v
| > > added another hidden column with the absolute value and would like a formula
| > > that would show the same value (positive or negative) for the percentage as
| > > what is displayed in that adjacent cell - any ideas?
| > > --
| > > wtrbb
| >
| >
 
W

wtrbb

Actual Forecast absolute change % change
5,733 (2,600) 8,383.00 (322.4%)
=(a-b) =c/b

as you can see, i am getting a negative return for the % change, when its
actually a positive - we did better than forecasted - my signage should match
the signage of the number in column c
 
D

David Biddulph

Your problem is in trying to work out a percentage in this situation. If
your forecast was that you'd break even, then you'll be quoting an infinite
percentage whether you achieve a profit of £1 or £1 million.

If you merely want to ensure that the sign of your percentage is the same as
the sign of your change, then you could use =C1/ABC(B1), but it's a fairly
meaningless quantity.
 
N

Niek Otten

Well, if you insist.........

But a change from -2600 to 5733 really is a minus change, meaning a change of sign. You may have your own interpretations of
"positive" and "negative", like "better" or "worse", but there is no way in math you can change a sign other than "minussing" it

Example: let's say a is -100 and b = -200. Then the difference between the two is 100 (positive). If you say <my signage should
match the signage of the number in column c> do you really mean this is a positive change (improvement)?


--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel





|
| Actual Forecast absolute change % change
| 5,733 (2,600) 8,383.00 (322.4%)
| =(a-b) =c/b
|
| as you can see, i am getting a negative return for the % change, when its
| actually a positive - we did better than forecasted - my signage should match
| the signage of the number in column c
|
| --
| wtrbb
|
|
| "Niek Otten" wrote:
|
| > Please give examples of your data, your formulas, what you require as results and what you get instead
| >
| > --
| > Kind regards,
| >
| > Niek Otten
| > Microsoft MVP - Excel
| >
| >
| > | mmm - if it were only that simple! sometimes the variance is negative, though
| > | - i'm running into the problem with the formulas that are computing negatives
| > | to negatives and pos/neg (where the variance should be a positive one, but
| > | returns a negative value instead)
| > |
| > | (b4-c4)/c4
| > | --
| > | wtrbb
| > |
| > |
| > | "Pete_UK" wrote:
| > |
| > | > Why not put ABS( ... ) around the formula you currently have, so it
| > | > will always show a positive value?
| > | >
| > | > Hope this helps.
| > | >
| > | > Pete
| > | >
| > | > > Hi
| > | > >
| > | > > am trying to calculate variances in a spreadsheet and am running across a
| > | > > problem with the formula returning the wrong value for the cell, for instance
| > | > > returning a negative variance when in fact it is a positive variance. i'v
| > | > > added another hidden column with the absolute value and would like a formula
| > | > > that would show the same value (positive or negative) for the percentage as
| > | > > what is displayed in that adjacent cell - any ideas?
| > | > > --
| > | > > wtrbb
| > | >
| > | >
| >
| >
| >
 
W

wtrbb

true, however, they want me to show in the spreadsheet whether our variance
was a positive or negative one -
 
P

Pete_UK

I think David meant to put:

=C1/ABS(B1)

Pete

Your problem is in trying to work out a percentage in this situation. If
your forecast was that you'd break even, then you'll be quoting an infinite
percentage whether you achieve a profit of £1 or £1 million.

If you merely want to ensure that the sign of your percentage is the same as
the sign of your change, then you could use =C1/ABC(B1), but it's a fairly
meaningless quantity.
--
David Biddulph









- Show quoted text -
 
D

David Biddulph

Yes, of course, you're right. It's been a long week. :)
--
David Biddulph

I think David meant to put:

=C1/ABS(B1)

Pete
 

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