How can adding two cells give a different result to adding the actual values?

Asked Jan 10 '19 at 12:33

Active Jan 10 '19 at 12:33

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I presume this is a weird edge case but please could someone explain why it is happening?

So, I have two values (17145.08 & -14741.30), and I wish to add them together. The result should be 2403.78.

If I type =17145.08-14741.30 into a cell, I get the correct answer, exactly 2403.78.

If I enter those values into two separate cells, and use a third cell to add (or SUM) those two cells, I get 2403.77999999999 (not visible without increasing the number of decimal places shown).

However, If I then go back to the first cell and re-enter the exact same value (17145.08), the sum recalculates to be correct.

Why does this happen?

asked Jan 10 '19 at 12:33

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Doesn't happen here (I'm in 64 bit Excel 16 ) What version are you running? – Harassed Dad Jan 10 '19 at 13:45
32 bit Excel 16 – Gravitate Jan 10 '19 at 14:24
I'd assume that it's an effect of how the machine stores negative decimals, except that it goes away when you re-renter the other value. – Harassed Dad Jan 10 '19 at 14:50
refer [this](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/588004/is-floating-point-math-broken) – Dy.Lee Jan 10 '19 at 15:07

How can adding two cells give a different result to adding the actual values?

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