topic Re: DIVIDE error ? in DAX Commands and Tips

DIVIDE error ?

dim123dim123 — Thu, 11 May 2023 08:34:34 GMT

who can explain me

DIVIDE(blank(),0,5) - return BLANK
DIVIDE(0,blank(),5) - return 5

if (ISERROR( blank()/0),1,2) - Return 2 NOT ERROR
if (ISERROR( 0/blank()),1,2) - Return 1 ERROR

Why blank()/0 is not error ? and why is divide return BLANK ?

Re: DIVIDE error ?

Wilson_ — Thu, 11 May 2023 12:34:00 GMT

Straight from Microsoft's documentation: "Performs division and returns alternate result or BLANK() on division by 0."

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Re: DIVIDE error ?

dim123dim123 — Thu, 11 May 2023 12:43:36 GMT

if (ISERROR( blank()/0),1,2) - Return 2 NOT ERROR
if (ISERROR( 0/blank()),1,2) - Return 1 ERROR

How it possible to device Blank()/0 and not got error ? 🙂
Some kind new mathematics logic?

And DIVIDE(blank(),0,5)

i think all cases

1) x/0

2) blank/0

3) blank /X

4) X/blank

5)0/blank

6)blank/blank

Must return error and alternateresult ? or what ?

Re: DIVIDE error ?

Wilson_ — Fri, 12 May 2023 12:45:27 GMT

BLANK() and 0 are not quite the same thing. They are functionally the same in a lot of cases, but not always. However, it sounds like you want the DIVIDE function to treat BLANK() like a 0. In that case, wrap whatever is returning you a BLANK() in a COALESCE function:

COALESCE ( [measure returning blank], 0 )

Re: DIVIDE error ?

dim123dim123 — Wed, 17 May 2023 07:54:07 GMT

but dividing by 0 should give an error always ? But no,

divide(blank()/0,1) and return Blank

divide(blank(),blank(),1) Return blank

and

divide(1,blank(),1) return 1

This is not mathematically and logicaly right

Re: DIVIDE error ?

Wilson_ — Wed, 17 May 2023 12:05:36 GMT

You can either work within the constraints of how Power BI actually works or just insist that it doesn't work the way your intuition says it should work. I don't know what to tell you. How division works with blanks overrides how division works with zeroes.

You do not have the ability to actually change how Power BI works to fit your intuitions better. (After all, you cannot actually have blanks in mathematics in the first place, right?)

Re: DIVIDE error ?

dim123dim123 — Wed, 17 May 2023 12:30:46 GMT

There's no point in arguing.
If it is necessary to get a value other than BLANK as a result of division -
function is not suitable.

If a formula or procedure works incorrectly, it is usually fixed by the developers.

The recommendations to always use DIVIDE instead of IF is not 100% correct

So the performance is lost 😞 unfortunately

In addition, if divide(blank()/0,1) and divide(0/blank(),1) had given the same result, I would even agree with you, but unfortunately the results are different . Right ?

Re: DIVIDE error ?

Wilson_ — Wed, 17 May 2023 18:28:32 GMT

I disagree with you that it works incorrectly, but I agree with you that "arguing" would be a waste of time so have a great day! 😄