Works: Division by Zero Causes "ERR" (76436)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Works 2.0
  • Microsoft Works 2.0a
  • Microsoft Works 3.0
  • Microsoft Works 4.5
  • Microsoft Works 4.5a
  • Microsoft Works for Windows 95, version 4.0
  • Microsoft Works for Windows 95, version 4.0 4.0a
This article was previously published under Q76436

SUMMARY

If the denominator used in a division formula is 0, false, blank, or a text string, the result of the formula will be "ERR."

MORE INFORMATION

A workaround is to use an IF formula to test for division by zero. For example, the formula

=IF(B1 = 0, 0, A1/B1)

will first test the cell B1 to see if it is zero. It will return a zero if B1 is a zero or perform the division if it is not a zero.

NOTE: Even though Works 3.0 and Works for Windows 95 support text string functionality in a formula, they will still return an "ERR" message if the denominator is a text string.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/15/2004
Keywords:kbinfo KB76436
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.