Some questions about using Excel?

I need (55.57) to end up in the cell, exactly as it is entered.
I can not use -55.57

If I can put (55.57) in a cell,
can the program then add these?
(55.57)
312.45
13.45
7890.00
(452.45)

To clarify, you wish to have the number in the cell look like (55.57). You need it to visually appear like this with the parentheses in place. However, you need the value to be +55.57. Is this all correct?

OK, I realized I was over-thinking this one a bit.

I think what your asking is how to represent a negative value of -55.57 in Excel as (55.57).

1) Right click the cell
2) Select Format Cells
3) Under the Number Tab > Category: select Number
4) To the right of this under Negative Numbers: select desired formatting of display.

Hello,

you can use a custom format to display numbers with special characters. If you want (55.57) to represent a positive value, then use the custom format

(General)

or, if you only want to show two decimals, regardless of how many are entered, use

(0.00)

It will still be a positive number. In the attached file, please find this custom format in action. Also, in case you want the number in brackets to be regarded as a negative number, I've added a column of numbers with custom format

0.00;(0.00)

Negative values will be displayed with the round brackets.

The format for negative numbers is determined by the operating system regional settings. If you always want to use brackets around negative numbers, you need to change the standard format for negative numbers in the control panel > Regional and Language settings (Windows XP)

cheers, teylyn
Book1.xls

microcosm:
I need the (55.57) to appear as (55.57) BUT, represent a negative number, (not + 55.57) since the bracket represents negative numbers on my tax return. The IRS said it needed to be the same format (columns, etc.) as their form.

Adding points and 2 last questions.

Two last questions, and please note that the new questions eliminate the example above of having to enter a negative number as (xxxx) and having it appearing as (xxxx).          

Can Excel subtract a number in a horizontal cell from another horizontal cell?
Two scenarios:
1. Can the number 44.50 in cell A, be added to the number 33.60 in cell B, to get the number 78.10 in cell C.   How?

2. Can the number 44.50 in cell B, be subtracted from the number 33.60 in cell A,
to get the number -10.90 and have it displayed (appear) as (10.90) and not -10.90
How?

So, I need these two types of calculations:
done across the cells, instead of down the columns.

           cell A       cell B         cell C
line 1   44.50       33.60        Excel to add 44.50 & 33.60 to get 78.10 in cell C

line 2   33.60       44.50        Excel to subtract 44.50 from 33.60 to get (10.90)
                                           in cell C, with the (10.90) being displayed as (10.90)

Thanks.

I used right click on the cells > format > to get the (10.00) on line 1.
I have entered numbers in line two, cell A and B.

How to get the program to subtract B from A, even though B is a larger number?
Untitledhhhhhh.jpg

teylyn:
sheet 2 and 3 are empty.
I am not understanding what I see on sheet 1.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'd like to subtract a number in column B such as 45.00, from a number in column A, such as 10.00.
I'd like the result to be in the format (35.00).

                  A              B             C
line 1      10.00        45.00      (35.00)     is what I need with Excel doing the math.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 A               B             C
line 1      10.00        45.00      -35.00         is not what I need
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll look at the other file you provided in comment:
ID:37081984Author:teylynDate:11/04/11 02:48 AM

Sorry, I accidentally attached a workbook meant for another thread.

Find in the attached file:

data in columns A and B
formula in column C: =A1-B1  (copied down)

C1 is formatted with custom format

0.00;(0.00)

to display negative numbers in brackets.

C2 is formatted to display negative numbers with the defaults of YOUR system for negative numbers. That may be a - sign, like -35.00 , or it may be showing the number in red or it may be showing the number with a leading % sign. There are many different ways to show a negative number. The standards vary from country to country.

As I said above, you can change the way a number is displaying in an area of your spreadsheet (or in the whole of your spreadsheet) by applying the custom format to the cells.

But if you need the brackets as the denominator for negative numbers, the quickest way is to use the computer's system settings.

cheers, teylyn
Book2.xlsx

thanks