The problem has to do with the format of the string Jacob's formula
produces. Excel is trying to be helpful to you and is getting it completely
wrong. Since the output of Jacob's formula is the text string N/D (where N
is the numerator's value and D is the denominator's value), Excel must
convert it to a number in order to use it in a calculation. When Excel tries
to convert a text string to a number, it will *not* evaluate an algebraic
expression (it doesn't see mathematical operator symbols as operators which
is why you can't to something like =--"5*3" in a cell and get 15); HOWEVER,
Excell will always go out of its way to try and construct date values from
text that look like dates when there is an attempt to use that text in a
calculation. The N/D string, when one of N or D is between 1 and 12, looks
like like a date to Excel where the other value is first assumed to be a day
value in the month if it would produce a real date or else it is assumed to
be a year value. So, if G13 contained the text string "2/72", Excel would
convert it to the date serial value for February 1, 1972, which is 26330 and
not the value of 0.027777778 (rounded) that you might have expected, if you
tried to use it in a calculation. This is the kind of thing I was trying to
alert you to in the follow up message I posted to my original response to
you.

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"cjennings" wrote in message
...
That did fix the rounding problem but caused the rest of the formula to
mess
up. The next column was =IF(G13="","",(G13*E$5)) but it is showing #VALUE
now. I hateit when it fixes one thing but screws up the rest!
--
Thanks!


"Jacob Skaria" wrote:

Do you mean

=IF(F13="","",(F$5-F12) & "/" & I$8)

If this post helps click Yes
---------------
Jacob Skaria


"fractionwoes" wrote:

I am trying to set up a depreciation schedule and I want the
denominator of
fraction to stay a constant - do not round or reduce. For instance, if
the
months, cell I8, (the denominator) is 72, then the formula
=IF(F13="","",((F$5-F12)/I$8)) would give the answer of 2/72, 3/72,
4/72,
etc. But the denominator won't always be 72, it might be 150, etc. I
have
tried to format the cell to # ???/???, but Excel keeps reducing the
fraction.