using symbols and numbers in the same formula

S

Scotty

Hi, please forgive me for being ignorant, but I need help in usin
symbols with numbers in a formula. What I have to do is make a colu
using "less than" values (<0.1), and at the bottom of the page I hav
to average the value, including the < symbol. Then put ths on t
another sheet (but I think I can do that part myself). Can or woul
anybody help me?
Thank you, Scott
 
A

AlfD

Hi Scott!

Yes: we can help. But will you help us first with a little mor
information?

Can you describe a little more what is on you sheet? Maybe give us
couple of rows of data and tell us what you are wanting to do with it
You mention "les than". What is less than what, for example?

Al
 
F

Frank Kabel

Hi Scott
not really sure what you're trying to do.<Maybe you can post some
example rows of your data (plain text - no attachment please) and
explain your expected result based on this data
 
D

Debra Dalgleish

You can use formatting to display the < sign for some numbers. For
example, to show the symbol for all numbers in the column:

Select the cells
Choose Format>Cells
Select the Number tab
Select the Custom Category
In the text box, type: "<"General
Click OK

Or, to display the < sign for numbers less than one, follow the same
steps, but use the custom format: [<1]"<"0.#;General
 
S

Scotty

This is for Frank K., and AlfD
I have to write reports to the state of CA on the way my wastewate
treatment plants are performing. < 0.1 means that I have less than 0.
settleable solids in my waste stream leaving the plant (it is
requirement). The state requires that I give them an average of th
value for the month. Some of our plants are not required to < 0.1, an
they go over. If I could put all of these results (< 0.1 or whatever
in one column, each box representing a day in the month, then have the
copied over to another page in the same order with an average of th
month total at the bottom it would be great.
Thank you for your responses, and Debra D. I am going to try what yo
said too
 
A

AlfD

Hi Scott!

I see what you are doing. And I've one worry about it: the averag
computation.

I take it for each day you have a value for the settleable solids (e.g
0.07 whatever the units are). I don't know, however, the way in whic
the average is calculated. A column alongside could be set up to sho
whether the value was below 0.1 Put =If A1<0.1,"<0.1","") in B1 if th
values are in A1 etc. But I can't average unknown values like <0.1.
can count how many are <0.1 and do stats. with that. But you ask for a
average.

The purist in me says it would properly be the total amount of solid
for the month related to the total throughput of water for the mont
(expressed as, say, a proportion or percentage or grammes per cubi
metre or whatever).

A second level (which would be pretty accurate if the water throughpu
per day was roughly constant) would be to sum these daily values an
divide by the no. of days in the month.

I think I need to be clear on what the CA authorities ask for. Have yo
a definition of average? Am I anywhere near the nub of your problem o
just making it worse?!

Al
 
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