# Arithmetic addition; joining, not adding

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/arithmetic-addition-joining-not-adding/67967>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [October 20, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/arithmetic-addition-joining-not-adding/67967 "2004-10-20T23:27:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![fxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bcef8e/32.png) [@fxm](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/fxm)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/arithmetic-addition-joining-not-adding/67967/1 "2004-10-20T23:27:57Z")

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Very simple problem, although unfortunatly the solution is beyond me.

I am trying to add two variables, but my AS is joining them

volume1=function(answer1){  
aa=wtft_12;  
aaa=wtin;  
bb=htft_12;  
bbb=htin;  
c=dtin;  
a = aa + aaa;  
b = bb + bbb;  
result1=a;  
return result1;  
};

There is more to this script, but I cut it down to this in order to focus on the error, which results in a joining aa and aaa. i.e. aa=36 aaa=4 results in a=364, where what I want would be a=40

Hope that is a clear explaination. Any takers?