Why am I getting #NUM error in Excel when trying to input:
=((171757/-201011)^(1/4))-1
It works fine on Wolfram Alpha..
asked Jul 10, 2015 at 2:02
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
You need to use imaginary number functions for your equation. Excel expects real numbers for its operations; so it returns #NUM when an imaginary number is created and you didn't specify an imaginary number function.
-
-
@fixer1234 I don't have Excel at home, so I don't know what the functions are. Maybe you could post them and I'll remove my post.– LDC3Jul 10, 2015 at 4:39
The fourth root of a negative number will be a complex (real + imaginary) number in the form: a+bi that your Excel formula is unable to manage.
You have to rewrite your formula to:
=IMSUB(IMSQRT(COMPLEX(0,SQRT((171757/201011)))),1)
That will give you the result:
-0,3201569+0,67984i
The same as Wolphram Alpha
