Re: Algebra puzzle (for all you ms Excel experts)

> > Hi
>
> > I have a mathematical puzzle that I cant solve.
>
> > In the table below, the inputs are the values in columns "A" and "B
> > and the desired output is column "C".
>
> > =A0 =A0A =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0B =A0 =A0 =A0 C
>
> > =A0 -3 =A0 =A0 =A0 -3 =A0 =A0 =A0 0
> > =A0 -3 =A0 =A0 =A0 +3 =A0 =A0 =A0-6
> > =A0 +3 =A0 =A0 =A0 -3 =A0 =A0 =A0 0
> > =A0 +3 =A0 =A0 =A0 +3 =A0 =A0 =A0+6
> > =A0 =A00 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A00 =A0 =A0 =A0 0
>
> > What on earth is the formula in Microsoft Excel that creates "C"?
>
> > With thanks
>
> > ****p
> >****pertonHenethe
>
> > Clue:
> > If you strip the sign off "A" and then add "A" and "B" together
> > and then apply the sign afterwards, you get the correct
> > answer. But how the heck do you do this in m***cel ?
> > And/or isnt there a better way of doing the mathematics ? (!)
>
> =3DSIGN(A1)*(ABS(A1)+B1)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -


Yes, Greg I think you get the prize for the most *intuitively obvious*
solution.

i.e. in english, then
1. Keep the +ve or -ve "sign" of A
2. Then take A, and either add or subtract B from it
(irrespective of A's sign).

And yes, well done - that's exactly what I'm looking for !

thanks very much


****p
(OP)