Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#2
![]()
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.worksheet.functions
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
As soon as you start rounding you purposely enter a level of error into
the spreadsheet. Essentially, you are telling Excel you are comfortable with an error as long as it is less that a certain amount. Adding numerous errors which, by themselves, are immaterial could aggregate to a material error, but this would be statistically improbable. For every number, there is a statistically equal chance of rounding up or down. By the same token, it is statistically improbable that for any given number of roundings exactly half rounded up and half rounded down. (Which is what must occur for the sum of the rounded detail to match the rounded total.) Basically, you have to decide if the 50 cents is important enough to concern your spreadsheet users. My experience tells me someone always catches the 50 cents and wants to use it to cast doubts on the veracity of the spreadsheet as a whole. For this reason, I would note the item as '$.50 difference due to rounding' in a comment to small text box and carry on. |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Forum | |||
how to minimize rounding error with complicated formulas | Excel Discussion (Misc queries) | |||
Rounding Formulas | Excel Discussion (Misc queries) | |||
rounding a formula's number | Excel Worksheet Functions | |||
formulas for rounding | Excel Discussion (Misc queries) | |||
specific rounding of formulas which may need to include an IF stat | Excel Worksheet Functions |