Re: [tuning] Micosoft Excel & Fractions

In-Reply-To: <01JMSF0U4IN28X14ZO@ONLINE.EMICH.EDU>
Polychroni Moniodis wrote

> It appears that Excel converts the fractional input into a decimal,
> then applies an algorithm to yield the fraction, rather than using the
> fractional inputs.

The copy of Excel I have here has a number of fractional display options,
including "Up to three digits". Unfortunately, there seems to be no
facility for denominators with more than three digits. This is pretty
much typical of Excel: it gives you a number if simple options, none of
which is what you want.

This is only a display problem: the number held is still correct. One
workaround is to put the numerator and denominator in different cells,
although that means you lose any automatic cancellation that might be
there.

When the numbers get really big, like for Mercator's comma listed here:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~huygensf/doc/intervals.html

you'll find they can't even be held as two integers in Excel. The
solution here is to boot up Linux and run bc.

That's interesting
what does a 94989264/25365 sound like :-)
Pat

Polychroni wrote:

> From: Polychroni <UPB_MONIODIS@ONLINE.EMICH.EDU>
>
> As a novice in this field, I encountered that Microsoft Excel spreadsheet
> cannot accurately display large fractions. For example, say you enter into
> a cell, custom formated for fractions (?????/?????), the following:
>
> =9801/6400
>
> the result will be:
>
> 949892641/25365
>
> The examples can be increased indefinitely.
>
> It appears that Excel converts the fractional input into a decimal, then
> applies an algorithm to yield the fraction, rather than using the
> fractional inputs.
>
> Perhaps those on this list have dealt with this problem (I would suspect it
> to be an old one) and some solution is available.
>
> Regards to all,
>
> Polychroni Moniodis
> Ypsilanti, Michigan
>
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