Article ID: 182188 - Last Review: November 5, 2003 - Revision: 3.1

HOW TO: Suppress #DIV/0! Error Value in Division in Excel 2000

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This article was previously published under Q182188

SUMMARY

When you divide by 0 (zero) or a blank cell, Microsoft Excel displays the error value "#DIV/0!" as the result of the calculation. This article shows you how to use the IF worksheet function to suppress the #DIV/0! error value.

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Suppress #DIV/0 Error Value

To keep #DIV/0! from appearing, use the following formula in place of the standard division formula:

   =IF(denominator=0,"",numerator/denominator)

"Numerator" refers to the cell to be divided. "Denominator" refers to the cell that is the divisor.

This formula checks to see if the denominator equals zero (or is blank); if so, a blank cell is displayed. For example, if you want to divide cell A1 by cell A2 and put the result in cell A3, the formula in cell A3 would be:

   $A$3: =IF(A2=0,"",A1/A2)

Cell A3 appears blank if cell A2 is blank or contains a zero. Otherwise, A3 contains the result of the expression A1/A2.

To display other information in the cell if the divisor is blank or zero, type the necessary information in the formula where the quotation marks ("") appear. If you want to display text, type it between these quotation marks. If you want to display anything else (values), type it instead of the quotation marks.

NOTE: If the denominator is a nonzero value, the division is calculated.

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REFERENCES

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

182189 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/182189/EN-US/ ) XL2000: How to Create a Conditional Format to Hide Errors

For more information about the #DIV/0! error value, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type What does the error #DIV/0! mean? in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

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