wrote:

On Fri, 8 May 2009 18:36:08 +0200, "Antonio Vernucci"
wrote:

I think this message can be of interest for those using Excel for antenna
calculations.

Write in one cell: =(-A1^2 + 8) Note: the exponent of A1 is 2 (and not
2+8=10) because Excel performs squaring before summing

Write in another cell: =(8 - A1^2)

They look pretty much the same

But give A1 any non-zero value and see what happen.

73

Tony I0JX
Rome, Italy

That's funny.
I would improve for clarity by putting spaces between

Write in one cell: =(- A1^2 + 8) .......... (result xxx(censored)
Write in another cell: =(8 - A1^2).............(result x(censored))

The result is same a yours, despite the spaces.
You may also enter negative numbers in A1 and also
decimal numbers, everytime a surprise.


Another Microsoft blunder?


w.

The blunder is not understanding operator precedence in Excel.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...010078886.aspx

Unary operators are before exponentiation.

Using more parentheses generally helps.

-A1^2 is interpreted as (-A1)^2 not -(A1^2)