WD: Calculation Provides Incorrect Answer

• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 6.0.1
• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

A calculation in Microsoft Word for the Macintosh displays the wrong number in the lower-left corner of the window.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, check the following possibilities:

1. Make sure each entire number is selected. When selecting a column by holding down OPTION and dragging, you can select portions of the column and portions of a number. If only a portion of the number is selected, only that portion of the number is involved in the calculation.

2. Be sure the number "1" is not the letter "l", and the number "0" is not the letter "O."

3. See if the symbols for plus (+), minus (-), asterisk (*), or slash mark (/) fall within the selection. Word ignores any letters or other characters in the selection, but uses these special symbols in the calculation for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (respectively).

4. If there is an underline in the selected area, be sure the underline character is being used, and not a line of hyphens (------), which would be confused with subtraction symbols.

5. In Word 5.x and earlier, if a decimal value is expected for an answer, make sure one of the numbers in the calculation has as many decimal places as is desired for the answer to appear in (for example, 1/5 would yield "0", 1/5.00 would yield 0.20).

6. If a calculation involves division, make sure you use a forward slash mark (/) for a division symbol, not a backslash (\). A backslash would be ignored in a calculation (for example, 1\5 would yield "6" because the numbers would be added instead of one being divided by the other).

7. If you are using Word 4.0, there is a problem in which the value "- 1.0" is interpreted as -.9 ("-1.0" is interpreted as "-.99," etc.). Keep this in mind when dealing with negative numbers or subtractions in calculations.

8. If an operator is formatted as hidden text and is not visible on the screen, the visible numbers default to the addition operation. For example, if 2*8 is entered and the "*" is formatted as hidden text, selecting "2 8" and pressing COMMAND+= (EQUAL SIGN) results in the value 10 (instead of 16, if the "*" was visible).

   To get the correct calculation, view hidden text by using the appropriate method for your version of Word.

   Word 98 -------

   1. On the Tools menu, click Preferences.

   2. On the View tab, click to select the Hidden Text check box.

   3. Click OK.

   Word 6 ------

   1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

   2. On the View tab, click to select the Hidden Text check box.

   3. Click OK.

   Word 5 ------

   1. On the Tools menu, click Preferences.

   2. Click the View category, and then click to select Hidden Text.

   3. Close the Preferences window.

   Word 4 ------

   1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences.

   2. Click to select Show Hidden Text.

   3. Click OK.

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