PV Function (OpenOffice Calc)

• Introduced: First release not established; documented by OpenOffice.org 3.3.
• Supported in: Apache OpenOffice 4.1.16; this is a verified release, not a final supported version.
• Scope: Desktop Calc, English function names and semicolon-separated formulas.
• Checked: October 14, 2026. Eight ordinary reference formulas were recalculated from generated ODF in 4.1.16 on Linux x86-64, Build 9816. Source and independent mathematics were also checked.

PV solves for the present value of a constant-rate stream of equal payments and an optional final value. It is a signed cash-flow calculation, not a prediction of market prices. Rate and NPer must use the same period unit. Release implementation.

=PV(Rate; NPer; Payment [; FutureValue [; Type]])

Rate, NPer and Payment are required. FutureValue defaults to 0 and Type defaults to 0, meaning end-of-period payments; use Type=1 for payments at the beginning. When specifying Type, supply FutureValue explicitly. The source selects the beginning branch for any positive Type, but 0 and 1 are the clear portable inputs.

The native column contains saved 4.1.16 results; the independent column uses high-precision mathematical calculations. Values are displayed to twelve decimal places, so harmless final-place differences remain visible. Rate decimals such as 0.05 represent 5%, not 0.05%.

Suppose a model pays you 100 at each of the next twelve month ends and discounts at 1% per month. From the payer’s viewpoint, Payment is −100, and =PV(0.01;12;-100) returns about 1125.507747348463. Changing the viewpoint reverses all cash-flow signs. The number is a model value under the stated discount rate, not a recommended price.

For payments at the beginning of each month, =PV(0.01;12;-100;0;1) returns about 1136.762824821948. Each payment is discounted for one period less. Do not change Type solely to obtain a preferred result.

For a positive periodic rate r and n end-period payments p, PV=−FV/(1+r)^n−p×(1−(1+r)^−n)/r. The source has a separate zero-rate branch, giving −FV−p×n without dividing by r. The zero-rate example therefore returns 1200.

With no periodic payments, the formula discounts a single future amount. The ten-period, 5% example with FutureValue=−1000 is approximately 613.913253540759. This can be checked by multiplying the positive present value by 1.05^10 to recover 1000.

For zero final value, a beginning-period annuity’s PV is the end-period PV times 1+r. That shortcut does not multiply the separate final lump sum by 1+r, because the lump sum still occurs at the ending date.

Keep a constant periodic rate and equal payment intervals. Dividing a quoted annual rate by 12 is appropriate only when that quote uses the corresponding nominal monthly convention; an effective annual rate has monthly equivalent (1+annualRate)^(1/12)−1. Fees, changing rates and irregular dates need a different cash-flow model. The tested negative periodic rate is a numerical example, not an assertion about contract terms.

NPV, XNPV, power.

• Function-specific release entry
• Calculation helper

The generated ODF input produced the informational load warning “Not all attributes could be read.” After it was acknowledged, the sheet was hard-recalculated and saved separately. All eight ordinary function identities and results were reconciled; a stale SUM cache changed from 999999 to 3 and an uncached SUM returned 7. This establishes the stated formula examples, not every workbook style or every invalid input. The original XLSX was not executed. Other explanatory calculations are independent mathematical checks; this guide does not claim a fully executed amortization schedule, other releases or all boundary cases.