Errata....

I wrote:
The OP's number might be anything between the equivalent of
2^-54 - 2^-102 and 2^-54 + 2^-101 inclusive

That was over-simplified. Actually, the OP's number might be any value of
the form 2^-54 + n*2^-106, where n is -30 to 50 inclusive. That might be
clearer, as well.


In fact, if we enter 0.000000000000000055511151231258, the internal
value is the same as 2^-54 + 2^-102 - 2^-105, which also can be written
as 2^-54 + 2^-103 + 2^-104 + 2^-105.

Also written as 2^-54 + 14*2^-106.


----- original message -----

"JoeU2004" wrote in message
...
"Dana DeLouis" wrote:
Another way to say the same thing as the others...
=POWER(2,-54)
0.000000000000000055511151231258

Or simply 2^-54.

But we have no way of knowing whether the OP is encountering only a
single-bit difference, especially since the OP posted only 14 significant
digits.

The OP's number might be anything between the equivalent of 2^-54 - 2^-102
and 2^-54 + 2^-101 inclusive, all of which display as
0.000000000000000055511151231258.

In fact, if we enter 0.000000000000000055511151231258, the internal value
is the same as 2^-54 + 2^-102 - 2^-105, which also can be written as 2^-54
+ 2^-103 + 2^-104 + 2^-105. The exact representation is a number with 106
digits in the decimal fraction, about
0.0000000000000000555111512312579,9958. (The comma demarcates the first
15 significant digits.)

In contrast, 2^-54 is "only"
0.0000000000000000555111512312578,2702118158340454 1015625.


---- original message -----

"Dana DeLouis" wrote in message
...
but often get =0.000000000000000055511151231258

Another way to say the same thing as the others...

=POWER(2,-54)
0.000000000000000055511151231258

= = = = =
Dana DeLouis



Christian Weller wrote:
In excel I am calculating the time difference between two times
I.e. 6:17:36 AM - 6:17:36 AM = 00:00:00 (12:00:00 am depending on
formatting)
Sometimes I get 0 , but often get =0.000000000000000055511151231258
-0.000000000000000055511151231258 (number format with 30 decimal
places)

Any ideas why?