[Year 12 IT Apps] Bad, Excel. Bad!

Mark Kelly kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
Mon Oct 15 16:33:28 EST 2007


Sorry for the confusion all.  The formula was originally sum(a1:a5) - as 
it should have been - but I forgot to undo Excel's botched "correction" 
before saving and posting it.

It started as sum(a1:a5)!

The problem is as Alex notes - after filling in A1:A5, Excel starts 
changing the formula!  That's why it _ended up_ as SUM(A1:A10) - and 
that's where you entered the story :-)

Cheers
Mark

Geoff Moss wrote:
> Hi Mark
> 
> The formula in A11 is:  =SUM(A1:A10)
> Hence you are doubling the numbers A6:A10 by including them in the 
> sub-total for Total B
> 
> Just a bad formula!
> Cheers
> 
> Geoff Moss
> RMIT
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Kelly" <kel at mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au>
> To: "Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List" 
> <itapps at edulists.com.au>
> Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 2:50 PM
> Subject: [Year 12 IT Apps] Bad, Excel. Bad!
> 
> 
>> A curious problem with Excel.  Please play with the attached file.
>>
>> It seems Excel thinks it knows better than I do about what formulas
>> should be, and I can't work how how to stop it.  Something to do with
>> its 'advanced formula error' fixing, I guess.  Very annoying!
>>
>> To try it out, just put "1" into each of the shaded cells and watch what
>> happens to the formula for the total of section A!
>>
>> Any ideas for fixes?
>>
>> TIA
>> Mark
>>
>> -- 
>> Mark Kelly
>> Manager - Information Systems
>> McKinnon Secondary College
>> McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia
>> Direct line / Voicemail: 8520 9085
>> School Phone +613 8520 9000
>> School Fax +613 95789253
>> kel AT mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
>>
>> Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
>> IT Lecture notes: http://vceit.com
>> Moderator: IT Applications Mailing List
>>
>> You'll know when we are officially a civilised race: our schools have
>> all the money they need and the Air Force has to run a chook raffle to
>> buy a new bomber.
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-- 
Mark Kelly
Manager - Information Systems
McKinnon Secondary College
McKinnon Rd, McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia
Direct line / Voicemail: 8520 9085
School Phone +613 8520 9000, Fax +613 95789253
kel AT mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au

Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
IT Lecture notes: http://vceit.com
Moderator: IT Applications Mailing List

1. Education is an admirable thing, but remember that nothing that is 
worth knowing can be taught - Oscar Wilde
2. I make trouble.  You want some?



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