Question about Excel formulas, how to set a number to negative?

[Shockwave]

Is it possible to force a number to a negative state, regardless of the formula.
Lets say you have cells A1, A2 and A3 with formula =A1*A2.
Lets say A1 and A2 are negative, but you want the result of the equation to be negative. How can you force the number to a negative state, as a negative*negative = positive?
Is it possible? Or will the number always be positive since you have a neg*neg?
Thanks

 

[guyver01]

ye cannae change the laws of mathematics. neg*neg==positive.

 

[Shockwave]

Never mind, I figured out how. Thanks though.
Cant beat just guessing can ya?

 

[KingNothing]

abs(expression) * -1

abs being the absolute value function

 

[agnitrate]

Find an absolute value function or a square root function that returns only a positive.

Either take the abs of A1*A2 or do sqrt(A1*A1*A2*A2)

-silver

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: KingNothing
abs(expression) * -1

abs being the absolute value function

Cool, that may work better then mine. I went =(-A1)*(A2)...Essentially taking the neg number in A1 and converting it to positive....
Whoa.... I'm all confoozzled now...

 

[Shockwave]

On a side note, I cant believe how ridiculously powerful Excel really is when you get down and really open it up. Wow.
Making a new financial spreadsheet for my budget, working on my stock tracking section now. My basic stock tracking was simple, but the 401k section is giving me fits since its not simple buy/sell, but bi-weekly contributions. So, I need to keep up with average stock price and number of shares plus account for any buys or sells.... This is givin me a headache....

 

[amdskip]

I'm taking an Excel class actually and I am impressed with everything it will do.

 

[ReiAyanami]

just take a red marker and write a minus sign on the screen next to each number you want negative. then buy a new monitor like that 17" lcd from amazon

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: ReiAyanami
just take a red marker and write a minus sign on the screen next to each number you want negative. then buy a new monitor like that 17" lcd from amazon

I tried that, but the results of that affect other linked formula's, so then I ended up with red marks all over the screen....

 

[Mday]

Originally posted by: amdskip
I'm taking an Excel class actually and I am impressed with everything it will do.

hahaa, a class in excel.. or a class with excel? cuz the latter is NUB city.

 

[Kev]

Originally posted by: amdskip
I'm taking an Excel class actually and I am impressed with everything it will do.

its amazing how many features are in it. sometimes i wonder how the ms programmers thought up all these things to implement...

 

[notfred]

nm, that only works if the number is positive.