Why do I get another number when I enter one?

[Jym396]

I type this: 12345678987654321
And I get this: 12345678987654300?
Formatted as number.

Thanks,
-Jim

 

[Joe4]

Excel can only track 15 significant digits (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numeric_precision_in_Microsoft_Excel).
If it is important to keep all of them, enter the number as text instead of number.

 

[Jym396]

OK...formatted as text. But I was trying * or / this. Maybe could refer to it as =value?

 

[Jym396]

Well that didn't work.

 

[Joe4]

Please tell us exactly what you are trying to do (provide details/example).

 

[Jym396]

An example of "Fractal in Nature" and math it is stated that 111111111*111111111=12345678987654321. That is (9)1's X (9)1's. If you do (8)1's it is the same sequence without the 9.

 

[tyija1995]

As Excel caps at 15 significant figures it's not best practice to use larger numbers for calculations, as for the 1's X 1's that sequence will generate as 123...n(n-1)(n-2)...21 so (8)1's X (8)1's = 123456787654321

 

[Joe4]

An example of "Fractal in Nature" and math it is stated that 111111111*111111111=12345678987654321. That is (9)1's X (9)1's. If you do (8)1's it is the same sequence without the 9.

So, is that the stuff that you want to do? Multiply two 9 digit numbers together?
As stated, Excel can only track up to 15 significant digits, so you are going to lose precision if you try to do that.
I do not know any good way around that.

 

[Jym396]

As Excel caps at 15 significant figures it's not best practice to use larger numbers for calculations, as for the 1's X 1's that sequence will generate as 123...n(n-1)(n-2)...21 so (8)1's X (8)1's = 123456787654321

Very well put tyija1995 !