excel problems

charlies82

can anyone help me

i'm trying to create a formula ie =SUM(D5/D6) but it keeps on coming up the the total sum timesed(sp?) rather than divided and also the other way around ie =(sum(D5*D6) comes up with the total divided.

I hope this makes sense, if so how do i change the symbols back to what the should be with the correct formula creating the correct answer????

i checked the + and - symbols and the have stayed the correct way.

Many thanks

charlies82

Thanks,

I had tried that already but still wrong calculation, maybe i did not explain properly my mathmatical operations/symbols are not correct i mean....

/ is using *
* is using /

in my calculation i am trying to work out out a figure divided by the vat but its just timesing it by vat instead of dividing obviously i can get the correct answer by using the * as it will give me the divided figure but my point is the formula will be wrong and it is for my exams

my symbols are using the opposite of what they are supposed to be.


Please anyone sorry for the long essay!!!

PhilCo_2

If you need to add a range of numbers and then find the VAT figure do

=sum(firstcell:lastcell)*17.5% (if you have the VAT figure in a cell use that cell instead)

If you want to add the VAT onto the figure do

=sum(firstcell:lastcell)+(sum(firstcell:lastcell)*17.5%)

charlies82

My formula is =D5/E2

if i put it another way
£21,750(in cell D5) / 17.5% (in cell E2) the answer is coming up with £124,285.71 so therefore / is becoming *

if i were to use the formula D5*E2 the answer is coming up with £3,806.25(correct answer) so i can get the correct answer but the formula in how i achieve this is wrong.

Sorry maybe i'm not very good at explaining.:o

Andy_L

If you're dividing by vat with vat = 0.175 the answer will be larger & look as if you are multipling.

What are you trying to find out by dividing by VAT?

Andy_L

Simultaneous posts :-)

Looks like you are trying to find the VAT on a purchase of £21,750 then the calculation is 17.5% OF £21750. In mathematics OF is a synonym for TIMES so you should be multiplying.

f1charlie

I guess you have the cell with your percentage in formatted as 'percentage'.

Format the cell as 'number' and you will see what is happening:

17.5% = 0.175

Hence the way your calculations are coming out.

charlies82

that went straight over my head must be having a very blonde day!! (no offense to blondes i'm one myself)

this is my question

4 a) In the [FONT=Arial,Arial]VAT [/FONT]column enter a formula using the cell named [FONT=Arial,Arial]VAT [/FONT]to calculate the VAT for the Porsche.


yes your right * the cells comes up with the correct answer but if you do it by calculator you divide, why is this? sorry being really stupid lol

scottishlass

charlies82 wrote: »

that went straight over my head must be having a very blonde day!! (no offense to blondes i'm one myself)

this is my question
4 a) In the [FONT=Arial,Arial]VAT [/FONT]column enter a formula using the cell named [FONT=Arial,Arial]VAT [/FONT]to calculate the VAT for the Porsche.


yes your right * the cells comes up with the correct answer but if you do it by calculator you divide, why is this? sorry being really stupid lol

0.175*Vat will give you the VAT - not sure what you mean by using a calculator and dividing though...if you dont have a % button on your calculator then you would divide by 100 and the times by 17.5 which is the same as multiplying by 0.175

charlies82

right people feeling like a complete idiot now:o

I now understand.

Thankyou all for helping me realise what i was doing!!

:j :j :j lol

ednotdave

charlies82 wrote: »

My formula is =D5/E2

if i put it another way
£21,750(in cell D5) / 17.5% (in cell E2) the answer is coming up with £124,285.71 so therefore / is becoming *

if i were to use the formula D5*E2 the answer is coming up with £3,806.25(correct answer) so i can get the correct answer but the formula in how i achieve this is wrong.

Sorry maybe i'm not very good at explaining.:o

I think you're not very good at maths!:eek:

£21,750/17.5% is £124,285.71 (try it on a calculator!).

If you want to know how much vat to add to £21750, use 21750x17.5% = £3806.25 (which is your correct answer)
ie =D5*17.5%

BUT,

If you want to know how much vat is already in the total of £21750, use 21750-(21750/1.175) = £3239.36
ie =D5-(D5/1.175)

If it's neither of the above, what exactly are you after?

HTH and good luck with the exam!

ed

Sorry - other posts came in while typing...