Seriously, this is funny! Jeff in GA is "mathematically challenged" and I
think we should enjoy his rants, not insult him. If he stops ranting, the
laughs will stop. BTW, here's one for you Jeff in GA, see if you can solve
it:

a = b

[multiply both sides by b]
ab = b^2

[subtract both sides from a^2]
a^2 - ab = a^2 - b^2

[factorise]
a(a - b) = (a + b)(a - b)

[delete common factor, (a-b)]
a = (a + b)

[since a=b, substitute]
a = (a + a)

[simplify]
a = 2a

[delete common factor, a]
1 = 2

I'm sure that will blow Jeff's fuse, but anyone else reading this might try
and find the kindergarten mathematical flaw with this bit of maths. Most
people struggle finding the flaw.

Jeff in GA, you're a riot! Keep it up :o)

Alain


"JoeU2004" wrote in message
...
Sorry. Whenever I encounter someone speaking out the wrong hole, I tend
to respond in kind with a brain fart of my own.


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

"JoeU2004" wrote in message
...
"Jeff in GA" wrote:
It must be great to be a monopolistic company that can foist defective
software on the public and then blame the standards for being
inadequate.

It must feel great to make accusations out of ignorance before you even
try to understand the facts.

Perhaps Jim's comments misled you. There is nothing wrong with the IEEE
standards. It is simply a fact of life.

If you have 5 apples and you want to divide them among 6 people so that
each person gets a whole apple, it simply cannot be done.

Is this a defect of Mother Nature, and her standards are inadequate?

I will try to put your ignorant rants aside and explain the problem to
you elsewhere in this thread. But I seriously doubt that you are capable
of or even have the desire to truly understand.


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

"Jeff in GA" wrote in message
...
Jim,

It must be great to be a monopolistic company that can foist defective
software on the public and then blame the standards for being
inadequate.

Microsoft should make cars, and use the automotive standards from
Bulgaria,
and then when people are injured in accidents they can blame Bulgaria
for
having lousy standards.

...Jeff

"Jim Thomlinson" wrote:

You will have to take it up with IEEE (Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers). It is the international standard for floating
point
arithmetic. XL complies with this standard. Once you have convinced
them that
they are wrong I am sure the XL will fix your issue.
--
HTH...

Jim Thomlinson


"Jeff in GA" wrote:

This is NOT some calculation to the nth place or an atomic weight.

This is: .29 - .28

Instead of returning the correct answer of 0.01, Microsoft Excel
returns
0.00999999999999995

This floating point excuse for can not be blamed for poor product
quality.

Does Microsoft ever plan to repair its product, or should it only be
used
for calculating federal budget numbers?