"On the Numerical Accuracy of Spreadsheets"

[robert_weir@us.ibm.com]

Not directly related to OpenFormula, but I think several of you will be 
interested in this paper:

http://www.jstatsoft.org/v34/i04/paper

"Abstract:

This paper discusses the numerical precision of five spreadsheets (Calc, 
Excel, Gnu-
meric, NeoOffice and Oleo) running on two hardware platforms (i386 and 
amd64) and
on three operating systems (Windows Vista, Ubuntu Intrepid and Mac OS 
Leopard).
The methodology consists of checking the number of correct significant 
digits returned
by each spreadsheet when computing the sample mean, standard deviation 
first-order
autocorrelation, F statistic in ANOVA tests, linear and nonlinear 
regression and distribution
functions. A discussion about the algorithms for pseudorandom number 
generation
provided by these platforms is also conducted. We conclude that there is 
no safe choice
among the spreadsheets here assessed: they all fail in nonlinear 
regression and they are
not suited for Monte Carlo experiments."