FIX: Mathematical Operations on Numeric or Decimal Columns with Negative Numbers May Return Unexpected Results (275608)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SQL Server 7.0

This article was previously published under Q275608

BUG #: 58371 (SQLBUG_70)
BUG #: 55457 (SQLBUG_70)

SYMPTOMS

If you perform multiplication or division operations on numeric or decimal data types that have negative values, you may see unexpected results.

WORKAROUND

If the value -0 is already stored in a numeric or decimal column, and you want to make a comparison with 0 (zero), use the ABS Transact-SQL function on the column.

For example, if the value is in a column named nvalue, the WHERE clause of the query would look like this:

WHERE ABS(nvalue) = 0.0

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server 7.0. This problem has been corrected in U.S. Service Pack 3 for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

274799 INF: How to Obtain Service Pack 3 for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) 1.0

For more information, contact your primary support provider.

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	3/14/2006
Keywords:	kbBug kbCodeSnippet kbfix kbQFE KB275608