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José Angeles's avatar
José Angeles
Copper Contributor
Sep 26, 2017

Problem with numbers division

Hi, this should be a very easy one, but I've not been able to solve it.

 

If I type a numbers division, like say "=3/4", Excel will automatically replace that simple formula with its result, "0.75" (loosing the formula). I understand that this may be due to speed reasons, so Excel won't need to calculate the result every time I open the worksheet. But, as I have less than 100 of such formulas, I don't think this is a very time-consuming task for an i7 processor.

 

I just want Excel show the result while keeping the original formula, so I can know where the result came from. I don't want to have to write the "3" in one cell, then the 4 in another cell, and then in a third cell type a formula like, say "=A1/B1". I just want Excel to keep the "=3/4" formula, and display the result. Is there any option, configuration or any other way to avoid the automatic substitution of the formula with its result?

 

I have noticed this only with divisions, not with additions, substractions or multiplications. Before I noticed this, I wrote several divisions that have been substituted with their results and now I don't know where the numbers come from.

 

Can anyone help me with this, please? Thank you.

  • Alun Davies's avatar
    Alun Davies
    Brass Contributor
    just so I have this correct you are looking at
    3 4 0.75
    3 4 =3+4

    The Excel tool was built to Calculate 7 for the last cell and if you have =3+4 you will have had to fix it that way.

    • José Angeles's avatar
      José Angeles
      Copper Contributor
      If I type =3+4, the cell will display the result, 7, but it will keep the formula. If I type =3/4, the cell will also display the result, 0.75, but the formula will be replaced too with the result, loosing the formula (which I want to keep).

      Thank you, Alun.
  • Hi Jose,

     

    Do you mean you see 0.75 in formula bar instead of =3/4 (and no such effect for =3+4) without pressing F9 for PC version?

     

    • José Angeles's avatar
      José Angeles
      Copper Contributor

      Yes, in the formula bar the =3/4 is replaced with the result 0.75, therfore the cell also displays 0.75.

       

      I have Office 365 (therefore, the latest version of Excel, i.e. 2016 in this case), PC version (running on Windows 10), and I do not press F9.

       

      There is not such effect with additions, substractions or multiplications, only with divisions.

       

      Thank you, Sergei.

      • SergeiBaklan's avatar
        SergeiBaklan
        MVP

        Jose, to clarify - that's only with =3/4 or with any division, let say =10.741/3.14?

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