Sql error "Divide by zero error encountered" when the divisor is 0

Question

I have an error coming up "Divide by zero error encountered." in SQL Server 2005. I understand that i have few rows that are are getting divided by Zero that results in this error. So i was wondering if can eliminate this error when the divisor is zero. if the divisor is 0, it should return 0. How can i do that?

sum(isnull(cast(S.S_AmountCollected as numeric(10, 2)), 0)) / sum(isnull(cast(S.AmountSold as numeric(10, 2)), 0))

Thank you!

Use `case` to detect the 0 value and not run the division. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms181765.aspx — asawyer, Feb 20 '13 at 16:36

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 20 '13 at 16:36

1

Use a CASE statement:

CASE WHEN SUM(ISNULL(CAST(S.AmountSold as numeric(10, 2)), 0) = 0
        THEN 0
      ELSE 
        SUM(ISNULL(CAST(S.S_AmountCollected as numeric(10, 2)), 0)) 
           / 
        SUM(ISNULL(CAST(S.AmountSold as numeric(10, 2)), 0))
     END

answered Feb 20 '13 at 16:36

Mike Dinescu

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I believe he has an error when the value is 0, not null, but the solution you show will still work with a small change – Ivaylo Strandjev Feb 20 '13 at 16:38
yeah.. it was hard to untangle his one-liner.. :) – Mike Dinescu Feb 20 '13 at 16:39
CASE works great! Thank you Miky! :-) – challengeAccepted Feb 20 '13 at 16:46
The page wont let me accept an answer for 10 minutes after the post. Hmmm :-) – challengeAccepted Feb 20 '13 at 16:53

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 20 '13 at 16:37

0

You can not eliminate this error as an integer divided by 0 has undefined value. You will have to add an explicit check to have the behavior you expect.

answered Feb 20 '13 at 16:37

Ivaylo Strandjev

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Sql error "Divide by zero error encountered" when the divisor is 0

2 Answers2