Thread: Excel Math Bug
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John Howard John Howard is offline
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Default Excel Math Bug

In a recent multi, multi articled thread on this subject dealing with an
Excel formula =-5^2 returning +25, much discussion centred around precedence
of operations being responsible for the + result
Despite the many theories on this, an Excel formula =-5^3 returns -125.
In fact it would seem that any negative value raised to an EVEN power
retruns a positive result.
Whillst the same negative number raised to an ODD power returns a negative
result.

There are, of course simple workarounds like =0-5^2 and =-(5^2) to retrun
the apporpriate negative result.

However IMHO such inconsistency is still a Bug and is long overdue for a
fix.

Any other thoughts on this?

Regards

John Howard