Function note

Text to number checks the exponent range even when the mantissa is zero

FUNC.ABS · FUNC.VALUE

FN-ABS-001: Text to number checks the exponent range even when the mantissa is zero

Excel differs from the mathematical answer · measured · recorded 2026-11-04

Converting text to a number, measured through ABS and VALUE, rejects a zero mantissa with an out-of-range exponent: ABS("0e-309") is #VALUE! though the text denotes 0, and ABS("0e-308") is 0. The exponent counts as written, less the fraction digits, less 2 for a percent sign, so ABS("0.0e309") is 0, ABS("0e309") is #VALUE!, and ABS("0e-307%") is #VALUE!.

Call and input routeInputsExcelCorrect valueRecorded in
=ABS("0e-309")
formula-literal		As typed#VALUE!0
0x0000000000000000		Excel build not recorded in this run; bulk captures of the same date (2026-09-29) record Excel 16.0 build 20430, Windows 64-bit, workbook compatibility 2
=ABS("0e-308")
formula-literal		As typed0
0x0000000000000000		—Excel build not recorded in this run; bulk captures of the same date (2026-09-29) record Excel 16.0 build 20430, Windows 64-bit, workbook compatibility 2
=ABS("0e-307%")
formula-literal		As typed#VALUE!—Excel build not recorded in this run; bulk captures of the same date (2026-09-29) record Excel 16.0 build 20430, Windows 64-bit, workbook compatibility 2
=ABS("0e309")
formula-literal		As typed#VALUE!0
0x0000000000000000		Excel build not recorded in this run; bulk captures of the same date (2026-09-29) record Excel 16.0 build 20430, Windows 64-bit, workbook compatibility 2
=ABS("0.0e309")
formula-literal		As typed0
0x0000000000000000		—Excel build not recorded in this run; bulk captures of the same date (2026-09-29) record Excel 16.0 build 20430, Windows 64-bit, workbook compatibility 2
=VALUE("0e-307")
formula-literal		As typed0
0x0000000000000000		—Excel 16.0.20527.20088 Current Channel, Windows 64-bit (NT 10.0.26200), x86-64, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, en-ZA
=VALUE("0e-307%")
formula-literal		As typed#VALUE!—Excel 16.0.20527.20088 Current Channel, Windows 64-bit (NT 10.0.26200), x86-64, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, en-ZA
=VALUE("0e309")
formula-literal		As typed#VALUE!—Excel 16.0.20527.20088 Current Channel, Windows 64-bit (NT 10.0.26200), x86-64, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, en-ZA
=VALUE("0.0e309")
formula-literal		As typed0
0x0000000000000000		—Excel 16.0.20527.20088 Current Channel, Windows 64-bit (NT 10.0.26200), x86-64, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, en-ZA
=VALUE("0e309%")
formula-literal		As typed0
0x0000000000000000		—Excel 16.0.20527.20088 Current Channel, Windows 64-bit (NT 10.0.26200), x86-64, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, en-ZA
=VALUE("0e311%")
formula-literal		As typed#VALUE!—Excel 16.0.20527.20088 Current Channel, Windows 64-bit (NT 10.0.26200), x86-64, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, en-ZA

Correct value: The text denotes zero: a zero mantissa is 0 at any exponent.

Correct value: The text denotes zero: a zero mantissa is 0 at any exponent.

Basis: About 120 recorded zero-mantissa cases through ABS, and 72 through VALUE. All 72 VALUE readings fit a limit of -308 to 308 on the exponent as counted here.

Inferred: The exponent formula is inferred, though it fits every reading; that functions other than ABS and VALUE share this conversion is inferred.

Evidence and capture sources

Machine-readable note records