Forum Discussion
Help with #NUM error in IRR formula
IRR requires at least one negative value (as initial cost of business), see at https://support.office.com/en-us/article/IRR-function-64925EAA-9988-495B-B290-3AD0C163C1BC
mah2023 wrote: ``what should I do?``
First, you should take a critical look at the Excel file that HansVogelaar provides to be sure that he understood your cash flows correctly.
In particular, he considers only the first 33 cash flows that you numbered in your question to Sergei Baklan.
But in your question to hasan ahmed, you have 35 numbered cash flows.
Nevertheless, if we enter the additional cash flows into A34:A35 and calculate =IRR(A1:A35), the formula has no problem returning -0.486775222080371%, even without a "guess" parameter.
So....
-----
Second, you should present the data in a spreadsheet.
Ideally, attach an Excel file that demonstrates the problem.
Alternatively, provide a link to the Excel file that you uploaded to a file-sharing website that does not require that we log in to download the file.
The devil might be in details that we cannot see in the text that posted.
And most importantly, you should show us the formula that returns a #NUM error.
Is it truly =IRR(A1:A33), as HansVogelaar assumes, tacitly?
Or is it =IRR(A1:A35), as I assume? (If so, the data is not as it appears in your postings.)
Or is it something else entirely?
HansVogelaar wrote: ``I had tried 35 cash flows too, but also got #NUM! mah2023's data are not exactly as displayed``
"Had tried" or "now tried"?
We didn't have access to the exact cash flows until now. Right?
Anyway, amazing what a little detail will do! (wink)
I did try it with the data as originally posted, but my memory is admittedly a bit hazy.