I have been trying to subtract 2 simple numbers. I can do it by entering the
formula =123-111 but would to make a formula where I could use the cell as a
reference (ie H2-H3)

I have also been trying to find the average of 2 numbers. I use
=AVERAGE(H2,H3)
I get #DIV/0! I can't seem to get it to divide by 2.

Both your problems indicate the data in the cells is text rather than TRUE
numbers. Make sure the cells into which you are entering data is formatted
as General before entering the data.
--
Gary''s Student - gsnu200768


"Rookie" wrote:

I have been trying to subtract 2 simple numbers. I can do it by entering the
formula =123-111 but would to make a formula where I could use the cell as a
reference (ie H2-H3)

I have also been trying to find the average of 2 numbers. I use
=AVERAGE(H2,H3)
I get #DIV/0! I can't seem to get it to divide by 2.

First question:

=H2-H3

Second:

You get #DIV?0! probably because the cells are empty. AVERAGE() skips empty cells, so it doesn't count them either which causes
the division by zero.

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel

"Rookie" wrote in message ...
|I have been trying to subtract 2 simple numbers. I can do it by entering the
| formula =123-111 but would to make a formula where I could use the cell as a
| reference (ie H2-H3)
|
| I have also been trying to find the average of 2 numbers. I use
| =AVERAGE(H2,H3)
| I get #DIV/0! I can't seem to get it to divide by 2.

=H2-H3 to subtract

If =AVERAGE(H2,H3) is giving you #DIV/0! it sounds as if you haven't got
numbers in those cells. Perhaps you've got text? Look at =ISNUMBER(H2)
and =ISTEXT(H2). Perhaps you've got spaces or other non-printing
characters?
--
David Biddulph

"Rookie" wrote in message
...
I have been trying to subtract 2 simple numbers. I can do it by entering
the
formula =123-111 but would to make a formula where I could use the cell as
a
reference (ie H2-H3)

I have also been trying to find the average of 2 numbers. I use
=AVERAGE(H2,H3)
I get #DIV/0! I can't seem to get it to divide by 2.

In reply to my own post, I have found that I can use the AVERAGE formula and
IMSUB on a blank worksheet that I input the numbers manually. However, if I
copy/paste data into a worksheet I can no longer use those functions.
However, I can use ADD. I have checked the format of the cells and it
doesn't seem to matter if I have them formated as "general" or "number."
There's way too much data to input everything manually and that would defeat
the purpose of having excel. Can anyone help me overcome this obstacle?
Thanks.

"Rookie" wrote:

I have been trying to subtract 2 simple numbers. I can do it by entering the
formula =123-111 but would to make a formula where I could use the cell as a
reference (ie H2-H3)

I have also been trying to find the average of 2 numbers. I use
=AVERAGE(H2,H3)
I get #DIV/0! I can't seem to get it to divide by 2.

Format an empty cell as General. Put the number 1 in it. EditCopy. Select your cells with the "numbers". EditPaste Special,
check Multiply.
Now the cells are real numbers. That is, if they don't contain spaces or other invisible characters.
Post back if they do; that can be remedied too.

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel

"Rookie" wrote in message ...
| In reply to my own post, I have found that I can use the AVERAGE formula and
| IMSUB on a blank worksheet that I input the numbers manually. However, if I
| copy/paste data into a worksheet I can no longer use those functions.
| However, I can use ADD. I have checked the format of the cells and it
| doesn't seem to matter if I have them formated as "general" or "number."
| There's way too much data to input everything manually and that would defeat
| the purpose of having excel. Can anyone help me overcome this obstacle?
| Thanks.
|
| "Rookie" wrote:
|
| I have been trying to subtract 2 simple numbers. I can do it by entering the
| formula =123-111 but would to make a formula where I could use the cell as a
| reference (ie H2-H3)
|
| I have also been trying to find the average of 2 numbers. I use
| =AVERAGE(H2,H3)
| I get #DIV/0! I can't seem to get it to divide by 2.

It still didn't work. I was able to change the numbers but the formulas
didn't work. I
also cannot add these numbers.
"Niek Otten" wrote:

Format an empty cell as General. Put the number 1 in it. EditCopy. Select your cells with the "numbers". EditPaste Special,
check Multiply.
Now the cells are real numbers. That is, if they don't contain spaces or other invisible characters.
Post back if they do; that can be remedied too.

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel

"Rookie" wrote in message ...
| In reply to my own post, I have found that I can use the AVERAGE formula and
| IMSUB on a blank worksheet that I input the numbers manually. However, if I
| copy/paste data into a worksheet I can no longer use those functions.
| However, I can use ADD. I have checked the format of the cells and it
| doesn't seem to matter if I have them formated as "general" or "number."
| There's way too much data to input everything manually and that would defeat
| the purpose of having excel. Can anyone help me overcome this obstacle?
| Thanks.
|
| "Rookie" wrote:
|
| I have been trying to subtract 2 simple numbers. I can do it by entering the
| formula =123-111 but would to make a formula where I could use the cell as a
| reference (ie H2-H3)
|
| I have also been trying to find the average of 2 numbers. I use
| =AVERAGE(H2,H3)
| I get #DIV/0! I can't seem to get it to divide by 2.

Try ToolsOptionsCalculation tab, check Automatic

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel

"Rookie" wrote in message ...
| It still didn't work. I was able to change the numbers but the formulas
| didn't work. I
| also cannot add these numbers.
| "Niek Otten" wrote:
|
| Format an empty cell as General. Put the number 1 in it. EditCopy. Select your cells with the "numbers". EditPaste Special,
| check Multiply.
| Now the cells are real numbers. That is, if they don't contain spaces or other invisible characters.
| Post back if they do; that can be remedied too.
|
| --
| Kind regards,
|
| Niek Otten
| Microsoft MVP - Excel
|
| "Rookie" wrote in message ...
| | In reply to my own post, I have found that I can use the AVERAGE formula and
| | IMSUB on a blank worksheet that I input the numbers manually. However, if I
| | copy/paste data into a worksheet I can no longer use those functions.
| | However, I can use ADD. I have checked the format of the cells and it
| | doesn't seem to matter if I have them formated as "general" or "number."
| | There's way too much data to input everything manually and that would defeat
| | the purpose of having excel. Can anyone help me overcome this obstacle?
| | Thanks.
| |
| | "Rookie" wrote:
| |
| | I have been trying to subtract 2 simple numbers. I can do it by entering the
| | formula =123-111 but would to make a formula where I could use the cell as a
| | reference (ie H2-H3)
| |
| | I have also been trying to find the average of 2 numbers. I use
| | =AVERAGE(H2,H3)
| | I get #DIV/0! I can't seem to get it to divide by 2.
|
|
|

It was already checked automatic.

"Niek Otten" wrote:

Try ToolsOptionsCalculation tab, check Automatic

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten
Microsoft MVP - Excel

"Rookie" wrote in message ...
| It still didn't work. I was able to change the numbers but the formulas
| didn't work. I
| also cannot add these numbers.
| "Niek Otten" wrote:
|
| Format an empty cell as General. Put the number 1 in it. EditCopy. Select your cells with the "numbers". EditPaste Special,
| check Multiply.
| Now the cells are real numbers. That is, if they don't contain spaces or other invisible characters.
| Post back if they do; that can be remedied too.
|
| --
| Kind regards,
|
| Niek Otten
| Microsoft MVP - Excel
|
| "Rookie" wrote in message ...
| | In reply to my own post, I have found that I can use the AVERAGE formula and
| | IMSUB on a blank worksheet that I input the numbers manually. However, if I
| | copy/paste data into a worksheet I can no longer use those functions.
| | However, I can use ADD. I have checked the format of the cells and it
| | doesn't seem to matter if I have them formated as "general" or "number."
| | There's way too much data to input everything manually and that would defeat
| | the purpose of having excel. Can anyone help me overcome this obstacle?
| | Thanks.
| |
| | "Rookie" wrote:
| |
| | I have been trying to subtract 2 simple numbers. I can do it by entering the
| | formula =123-111 but would to make a formula where I could use the cell as a
| | reference (ie H2-H3)
| |
| | I have also been trying to find the average of 2 numbers. I use
| | =AVERAGE(H2,H3)
| | I get #DIV/0! I can't seem to get it to divide by 2.
|
|
|