Why do people put "+" signs in front of Excel formulas?
I've only started to recently notice this but why do some Excel models have "+" signs at the beginning of formulas? Ie: =+G21. The "-" sign obviously makes sense but is there any value to putting "+" signs in front of formulas if the result is automatically going to be a positive number anyway? Am I missing something here?
You can use the plus instead of equal to input a formula, it’s easier with a ten key to do it that way.
I believe that's what the older excel-like programs used to use, and it's a hold-over from that time - these days some people just think its faster.
It is faster. If you have a 10 key then you are able to create excel formula calculations (especially when quickly calculating quick arithmetic with just numbers or a formula that starts with a number i.e., +3*9-2 or +3*Cell-2) with only your right hand. Excel needs something to know it's a formula and the "+" key on the numpad is faster than using "=" in the number row (as you would have to move your hand or use both hands to execute either of the above two numbers). Coming from someone in banking almost 10 years and have never used the "older excel-like programs" you're referring to.
To answer the OP's question on why it is =+ instead of + sometimes is I believe excel will auto update some excel formulas to have the = sign in front -- don't quite remember what triggers it (best guess from memory would be one of the FactSet add-ons doing it) but that's why my formulas will end up with a =+ instead of just my + I inputted.
normally there's no equal sign on the numpad (there is a plus and minus) and some people like to use their numpad since it's faster than the top keys. something i need to start working on
Makes no formulaic difference, just a tiny bit faster to type and you don't have to reach all the way up the keyboard
IMO a lot of bankers see this in models when they're starting out and switch to it, regardless of whether they actually use the numpad or not
It's a hold-over from this ancient spreadsheet program called Lotus 1-2-3. Microsoft included that functionality in Excel to help Lotus users make the switch to a new software platform. I use it fairly frequently on a regular keyboard with a number pad for scratch calculations or formulas that are just arithmetic between cells because its close to the arrow keys.
Damn, are you the world's oldest IB intern? Not a diss in any way, because if you are, you probably have a pretty interesting life story but don't know of many 21 year olds who know what a floppy disk looks like, let alone Lotus 1-2-3
Going to be a 31 year old SA so not sure if I'm the oldest ever, but I'm probably up there. It has been a wild road, but I am so glad I finally made it.
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