I am having problems getting a formula to work when I have a negative number
in the first cell and I subtract the second cell (a positive). It adds the
number instead of subtracting them. It also happens when I have two negative
numbers that I am trying to subtract.

Pat,

I'm afarid that they are the basic rules of maths and negative numbers and
that is the result I would expect.

Mike

"Pat" wrote:

I am having problems getting a formula to work when I have a negative number
in the first cell and I subtract the second cell (a positive). It adds the
number instead of subtracting them. It also happens when I have two negative
numbers that I am trying to subtract.

As Mike says, that's the rules of Maths!

If say you have -5 in F8 and (+2) in G8 and you want -3 to be the answer
when you subtract the G8 from the F8 and with -2 G8 you want -7 then try:

=F8-G8*SIGN(F8)

But personally I would find it very confusing

--
HTH

Sandy
In Perth, the ancient capital of Scotland
and the crowning place of kings


with @tiscali.co.uk


"Pat" wrote in message
...
I am having problems getting a formula to work when I have a negative
number
in the first cell and I subtract the second cell (a positive). It adds the
number instead of subtracting them. It also happens when I have two
negative
numbers that I am trying to subtract.

If you must?? then incorporate ABS into your formula

--
Don Guillett
SalesAid Software

"Pat" wrote in message
...
I am having problems getting a formula to work when I have a negative
number
in the first cell and I subtract the second cell (a positive). It adds the
number instead of subtracting them. It also happens when I have two
negative
numbers that I am trying to subtract.