Excel Formula returning Zero

[breaknrun12]

I have and excel formula that sums up the values in two other cells. The two other cells get there value by a formula. When I sum these two cells up, Excel is returning Zero.

Ex. A1 = 1 (this value is typed in) B1 = 3 (this value is typed in)
A2 = 2 (this value is typed in) B2 = 4 (this value is typed in)
A3 =Sum(A1:A2) = 3 B3 =Sum(B1:B2) = 12 C3 =Sum(A3:B3) = 0

The problem is in C3. It seems that excel isn't liking formulas that use cells that contain formulas in them.

I know Excel shouldn't be doing this. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

 

[Andrzejek]

I repeated your steps and got 10 in cell C3
Excel 2010


Have fun.

---- Andy

 

[SkipVought]

don't you actually see 3 in A3 and 7 in B3?

Skip,
[sub]
Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE![/sub]

 

[Larena]

In the example, why does B3 =Sum(B1:B2) = 12? Shouldn't it be 7? Just wondering whether it's a typo, because if it's actually displaying 12 then there's something else going on.

 

[lionelhill]

You can, if you try really hard, get Excel to display the sum of two cells that ought to sum to "10" as "0". For example, if you set this up in a cell where someone has been trying to be clever with number formats, and has used the custom number format:
0,
Then the result will be displayed divided by 1000, and rounded to the nearest unit, which means 10 will become 0.01, and round to zero.
But who would do something so silly and contorted??

 

[byundt]

Is the calculation mode Manual? Check in the File...Options...Formulas menu item.

I could reproduce your problem with the following steps:
1. Change to manual calculation
2. Put this formula in cell C3: =SUM(A3:B3)
3. Put 1 in A1, 2 in A2, and then this formula in A3: =SUM(A1:A2)
4. Put 3 in B1, 4 in B2, and then this formula in B3: =SUM(B1:B2)

A3 will show 3, the correct sum of A1 & A2.
B3 will show 7, the correct sum of B1 & B2
C3 will show 0 because calculation mode is manual and you created the formula prior to updating its inputs.

Brad

 

[Deniall]

An answer to Skip's question would be really helpful here.