Why do towing spreadsheet percentages look wrong?

Establish what the records mean

Identify whether the cell contains a fraction such as 0.5, a percent value such as 50 or text such as “50%.” Verify numerator and denominator cells and how blanks are handled. Keep raw counts beside rates so an unexpected display is easier to trace.

A worked example

Fictional examples: five bookings divided by ten suitable requests is 0.5, displayed as 50%. Entering 50 and applying percent formatting can display 5,000%. Averaging 50% from two inquiries and 10% from one hundred inquiries gives 30%, but the pooled rate is eleven bookings divided by 102 inquiries, about 10.8%.

Choose the next action

Use a consistent formula and treat a zero or unknown denominator as not available. Do not convert blank records to zero merely to avoid an error. When combining groups, sum eligible numerators and denominators before dividing if that matches the intended metric. Keep percentage points distinct from relative percentage change.

Check whether it worked

Test a normal fraction, zero denominator, blank denominator and unequal group sizes. Reopen the exported file and verify formulas or values survived as intended. This arithmetic review does not claim validation in a particular spreadsheet application unless that environment was actually tested.

A repeatable review order

1. Underlying numeric value. Record the evidence and mark any missing answer as unknown.
2. Numerator and denominator. Record the evidence and mark any missing answer as unknown.
3. Display format. Record the evidence and mark any missing answer as unknown.
4. Blank/zero behavior. Record the evidence and mark any missing answer as unknown.
5. Pooled-rate test fixture. Record the evidence and mark any missing answer as unknown.