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jkeelx's avatar
jkeelx
Copper Contributor
Dec 24, 2023

Functions and formula problems in Microsoft Excel

I am having troubles getting two cells subtracted as they have embedded formulas in them. I also get an error message reporting a certain function in a particular cell.

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  • HansVogelaar's avatar
    HansVogelaar
    MVP
    Dec 24, 2023

    jkeelx 

    Subtracting cells that contain formulas should work if the formulas return numbers.

     

    What is the formula that causes an error, and what does the error message say?

    • jkeelx's avatar
      jkeelx
      Copper Contributor
      Dec 25, 2023

      HansVogelaar 

       

      Hi Hans,
       
      Please see 5 attached photos.
       
      The first 3 photos show an incorrect result of 0 in cell N19 when subtracting The N15 and N17 SUM formulas. 
       
      The last photo shows that when opening the excel file, I get a "circular reference" error.
      The 4th photo shows more info on error for =SUM(C16L16) in N16 cell"
       
      I would have liked to have attached the excel file that I'm having problems with, but didn't see any way to accomplish that.
       
      Regards,
      Joe Ellis
      • HansVogelaar's avatar
        HansVogelaar
        MVP
        Dec 25, 2023

        jkeelx 

        The status bar in the first few screenshots shows that D15 contains a circular reference, i.e. a formula that refers directly or indirectly to D15 itself. This prevents Excel from properly recalculating formulas.

        Please check the formula in D15.

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