Friday, October 8, 2010

Excel

Can anybody explain how Excel arrives at the below calculation?

 $  21,740.00
        (259.67)
        (234.42)
      (1,228.41)
      (2,662.62)
      (2,204.05)
      (3,588.84)
      (1,520.11)
      (2,458.85)
      (2,965.63)
      (3,437.06)
      (1,180.34)
 4.3201E-12 


All of the figures used in the calculation are exactly as you see them; that's not just formatting.  They really are only filled out to the hundredths place.  But for some reason Excel calculates a figure that's almost zero.  Really?  If I didn't put anything beyond the hundredths place, then shouldn't Excel ONLY calculate to the hundredths place?  It gets annoying having to go in after Excel and put in a rounding function because Excel sees something that's not there.  It's as if Excel is telling me 2-2 isn't 0, but 4.5785874E-11 or some such.  Give me a break.

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