Why cube root gives error?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dindigul
  • Start date Start date
D

dindigul

I typed =8^1/3 and I get 2.6666 instead of 2. Why? However if I type 2^3 I
get 8. Thanks
 
Try:

=8^(1/3)

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8^1 = 8
then
8/3 = 2.6666

Type "precedence" into Excel help, to see the order of prcedence for
arithmetic operators.

I guess you intended =8^(1/3) ?
 
I typed =8^1/3 and I get 2.6666 instead of 2. Why? However if I type 2^3 I
get 8. Thanks
Click to expand...

From HELP (operator precedence):

Operator precedence

If you combine several operators in a single formula, Excel performs the
operations in the order shown in the following table. If a formula contains
operators with the same precedence— for example, if a formula contains both a
multiplication and division operator— Excel evaluates the operators from left
to right.

Operator Description
: (colon)
(single space)

, (comma)
Reference operators
– Negation (as in –1)
% Percent
^ Exponentiation
* and / Multiplication and division
+ and – Addition and subtraction
& Connects two strings of text (concatenation)
= < > <= >= <> Comparison


Since you don't have parenthesis, Excel, as per its documentation, evaluates:

8^1

then

/ 3

If you want the cube root, you need

=8^(1/3)


--ron
 
I typed =8^1/3 and I get 2.6666

Just two cents. Using Power() can sometimes make the meaning more clear.

=POWER(-8,1/3)
-2

But...that's another thread. :>o
 
Here's more than 2 cents...
A math class of mine a long time ago taught the "order of operations", which is the exact same order you will find anywhere else, including the Excel help menu. =)
 
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