A String vs. Numbers?

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Level 1

61 points

A String vs. Numbers?

I want to set a formula for a cell that averages the value in several cells.

In the attached screenshot, the "4.58" value is cell K5, while the total percentage cell with the "!" is K16.

When I enter "Average > K5/K16" and click the check mark, I get this error message:

"The operator “-” expects a number, date, or duration, but cell D3 contains a string" . . . or "Numbers can't be divided by zero."

I've cleared the empty cells of spaces as other people recommended, but I continually get the same error message. Please let me know what's needed to get Numbers to cooperate. Thank you.

iMac (M3, 2023)

Posted on Sep 20, 2024 10:18 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Badunit

Level 7

28,312 points

Sep 20, 2024 1:43 PM in response to Warren Camp

=AVERAGE(K5:K16). I do not know why you are putting a division symbol in there instead of the :

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Answer 2

Badunit

Level 7

28,312 points

Sep 20, 2024 12:20 PM in response to Warren Camp

Your post doesn't make sense. "Average > K5/K16" is not a valid formula. The error message says "cell D3 contains a string", but D3 is not in the range K5:K16 so where does D3 come into play here?

If you meant the formula is =AVERAGE(K5:K16) and you are getting an error that cell D3 contains a string, you should first take another look at what you actually typed in as the formula. This might also fix the "can't be divided by zero" error.

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