The Sum of It All

L

Lost at Sea

I am trying to get my databases to equal the same amount Based on the same
numbers but different totals (i.e. one data base has in column one 2.5, 3,
1.75, 3.25; column two has 1.5, 2, 5.3. The second data base has 10.50 in one
column and 8.8 in the second.) However, no matter what I do I cannot get the
sums to be equal. Is there something that I am missing or has my brain gone
passed mental meltdown?
 
M

Mark Lincoln

If the figures are calculated there may be rounding issues (for
example, 1.75 could actually be 1.748). Excel is using the actual cell
values and not the displayed values when comparing figures.

Try rounding your results to 2 places where you are calculating figures.
 
L

Lost at Sea

They are all only two decimal places. I am trying to do these databases with
currency. Would the currency have anything to do with it at all?
 
M

Mark Lincoln

They are all only two decimal places.
I am trying to do these databases with
currency. Would the currency have
anything to do with it at all?
Click to expand...

That shouldn't have anything to do with it as far as I know.

If the figures are all entered as you showed in your original post then
I would be at a loss to explain the problem.

If any figures are calculated, that's where the discrepancy can arise
between the figures you see and the actual underlying values. If the
*values* are different by the tiniest fraction, you won't get them to
show as equal.

Are any of the figures the result of dividing one number by another?
That often traps me unless I round the results.
 
L

Lost at Sea

No, everything is added to each other. I really don't understand this at
all. I mean, at first I thought that I was just absolutely horrible in math
and had no clue what it was that I was doing, however, I went and added up
the categories for the subtotals via Excel formulas, and nothing is adding
up. The differences are anywhere from $22.01 between database 1 and 2 and
$225.00 between database 1 and three. I'm totally lost here. :(
 
M

Mark Lincoln

Do you have three sets of data in one workbook? Three separate
workbooks? We may need to get into specifics here.

To guess, given the size of the discrepencies (I was thinking in terms
of hundredths or thousandths of a unit), you may be adding too many (or
too few) numbers in some of your calculations. Are you using ranges in
your calculations? If so, are you copying them down a column or across
a row? The resulting formulae in other cells may be referring to cells
you didn't intend unless you are using absolute references.
 
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