This results comes from rounding. Computer must store numbers in binary
(number to base 2)and sometimes there is not an exact match between a
decimal number (number to base 10) and its binary equivalent.
Learn more from these sites:
IEEE 754
Floating-point arithmetic may give inaccurate results in Excel
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/78113/en-us
(Complete) Tutorial to Understand IEEE Floating-Point Errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/42980
What Every Computer Scientist Should Know About Floating Point
http://docs.sun.com/source/806-3568/ncg_goldberg.html
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/rounding.htm
Visual Basic and Arithmetic Precision
http://support.microsoft.com/default...NoWebContent=1

best wishes
--
Bernard V Liengme
Microsoft Excel MVP
http://people.stfx.ca/bliengme
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"MICHELE" wrote in message
...
why is my total showing a negetive zero. have triple check that the acutal
number doesn't have a hidden value like 5.000000000001 or something like
that. so what else could it be