Sorting and Floating Point Rounding Error

Hawkins42 

I'm sure I could explain it in detail if you provided some details -- a numerical example.  Ideally, attach an example Excel file (redacted) that demonstrates the problem.

You have already offered one theory:  floating-point rounding "error" (I prefer "anomalies").

That might alter the sort order, which in turn might alter the arithmetic result.

However, usually that difference is infinitesimal; not large enough by itself to cause a "penny" off.

I suspect that you have "normal" rounding errors -- that is, failing to round calculations such as 123.45 * 12.34% -- and perhaps that combined with floating-point anomalies cause the penny-off differences.

But that is wild speculation.  It is difficult to say anything more without a concrete example with sufficient detail (including formulas) for us to duplicate the problem independently.

I presume you understand why enabling "Precision as displayed" corrects the problem.  But I usually deprecate the use of PAD because of its broad implications and potential for unintentionally changing some constant values permanently.

I hope you were wise enough to enable PAD in a copy of the original file.