Apple Keyboard Enters Wrong Character In Numbers

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Level 1

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Apple Keyboard Enters Wrong Character In Numbers

I'm trying to build a spreadsheet with formulas requiring division in Numbers 5.1. Every time I try to enter the "/" character in a formula, I get "+" instead. I've tried different keyboards (Apple, Logitech, etc.) and the result is always the same. I get it that this is an older version of Numbers, but it's what I'm able to use. Is this a known "bug," or am I doing something wrong? I didn't see anything in the FAQ that addresses this issue, so if there's a solution I haven't found it. Any suggestions, tips, recommendations?

Mac mini, macOS 10.12

Posted on Jan 6, 2020 3:14 PM

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Answer 1

Barry

Level 9

60,023 points

Jan 7, 2020 12:00 AM in response to Dr Bubba

"I get it that this is an older version of Numbers…"

Actually, it's because 'this' is a newer version of Numbers. Numbers '08 and Numbers '09 (aka Numbers 1 and 2) kept the division operator ( / ) as typed. Numbers 3 introduced the replacement of the division operator with the division sign (and the replacement of the multiplication operator ( * ) with the multiplication sign, not to be confused with a lower case letter x.

Hardly anyone noticed the * to × change, but many posted a message similar to yours regarding the replacement of / with ÷.

Regards,

Barry

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Answer 2

Jan 6, 2020 3:18 PM in response to Dr Bubba

It looks like a plus + but if you look closely it is actually an obelus which is a division sign: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obelus

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Answer 3

Dr Bubba Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 6, 2020 3:57 PM in response to FoxFifth

Wow! Thanks so much for a super quick reply. What a great day! Learn something new every day, and today you've added to my education. Thank you!

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Answer 4

Dr Bubba Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 7, 2020 1:06 AM in response to Barry

Thanks very much for your reply. Now that I know the operator is an obelus and not a "+" I'm able to build out my spreadsheet and create the formulas I need.

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Apple Keyboard Enters Wrong Character In Numbers

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