Does the sheet show the correct result when you press F9? If so, your
file is set for manual calculation. Go to Tools | Options |
Calculation (tab) and check Automatic. Save your file so that it will
be automatic when you next open it.

If not then the cell is probably pre-formatted to text. Changing the
format only comes into effect after the cell has been edited, so
double-click on that cell and then press <Enter.

Hope this helps.

Pete

On Jul 25, 9:02 pm, Pat Adams
wrote:
It's as if the cell were formatted for text, but it is formatted for numbers
(or date). When I go through the formula function (rather than straight
entering), I can see in the formula function dialogue box the desired result
- just can't get it in the cell!