Thanks Fred. Adding the "Guess" factor fixed it. But I'm curious: this
problem surfaced within a list of rate calculations. With the guess factor
in place, the rate calculations in front of and behind the #NUM results did
not change when I applied a guess factor. Why would only a few result in the
#NUM error? The calculated rates were significantly different from the
guess factor.
Thanks again.
Pat

"Fred Smith" wrote in message
...
As you've found out, the iteration count in Tools does not appy to Rate.
It applies if you are using Goal Seek.

As it states in Help, when Rate gives you #Num, you must experiment with
the Guess parameter to get it to converge to a valid result. For example,

=rate(6,-206,0,100000,1,.5)

will return an answer (159%)

Try setting the guess in each one of your formulae, and you should get
proper results.

Regards,
Fred.

"PatJennings" wrote in message
...
I am using the standard RATE function with payments at the beginning of
the period. =RATE(B5,-C5,0,D5,1)
The final column in the data in my earlier message is not used in the
calculation. It is merely the aggregate of the payments made.

I attempted to provide the data in table format. I will try again.
=RATE(B5,-C5,0,D5,1)

B
C
D
E

Num Pmyts
Pymyts
Future Value
Rate

1
206
100,000
48444%

2
206
100,000
2054%

3
206
100,000
650%

4
206
100,000
340%

5
206
100,000
220%

6
206
100,000
#NUM!

7
206
100,000
#NUM!

8
206
100,000
#NUM!

9
206
100,000
#NUM!

10
206
100,000
#NUM!

11
206
100,000
#NUM!

12
206
100,000
#NUM!

13
206
100,000
#NUM!

14
206
100,000
43%

15
206
100,000
39%

16
206
100,000
35%

17
206
100,000
33%


"Fred Smith" wrote in message
...
What do columns A,B,C and D represent? Nper? PV? Pmt? What's the
addtional column (206, 412, 618, etc.) for?
What formula are you using to calculate the rate?

Regards,
Fred.

"PatJennings" wrote in message
...
Using the values in columns A, B, and C, I have the following data
solving for rate in column D. I have changed the iteration count and
the minimum value under Tools, Options, Calculation to no avail. Why
are the #NUM results appearing? Can the real values be solved?
Thanks.

A
B
C
D
E

1
206
100,000
48444%
206

2
206
100,000
2054%
412

3
206
100,000
650%
618

4
206
100,000
340%
824

5
206
100,000
220%
1030

6
206
100,000
#NUM!
1236

7
206
100,000
#NUM!
1442

8
206
100,000
#NUM!
1648

9
206
100,000
#NUM!
1854

10
206
100,000
#NUM!
2060

11
206
100,000
#NUM!
2266

12
206
100,000
#NUM!
2472

13
206
100,000
#NUM!
2678

14
206
100,000
43%
2884

15
206
100,000
39%
3090

16
206
100,000
35%
3296