Negative number calculation question

[Michael_Lever]

I have three fields, two are field type Number, one is Formula. The objective is the sum of the numbers in the result field.

(1() enter W, (2) enter D, (3) result (W*D)
In fields (1) and (2) I have selected ‘allow negative numbers’

Each row has for fields (1) and (2( whatever numbers I enter, for example:

W D Result
5 5 25
-3 -2 I expect -6 but what i get is 6 which means that the sum is 31, not 19

How can i ensure that when a negative number is entered, the result is substracted from the sum?

I have found an inefficient way around tthis by having a fourth field Type: number and allow negatiive number, into which i enter the result manually, eg:

Result
25
-6
(sum: 19)

tia

[Rupert_Hoffsch1]

Hi @Michael_Lever,

multiplying two negative numbers leads to a positive number (Khan Academy)

If you want to ensure that the outcome in this case is negative nonetheless, you could use a formula to do so:

IF(AND(n1 < 0, n2 < 0), n1*n2*(-1), n1*n2)

This says if n1 and n2 are below 0, multiply the result by -1. Otherwise just give the result.

Hope that thelps!

[Michael_Lever]

Very helpful, thank you very much.