Function signs in excel

In Excel, it is often necessary to use when calculating values that are tied to symbols, the sign of a number, and the type.

The following functions are used for this:

• CHAR;
• TYPE;
• SIGN.

CHAR function makes it possible to get a character with its given code. The function is used to convert the numeric character codes that are received from other computers into characters of the given computer.

TYPE function determines the data types of the cell, returning the corresponding number.

SIGN function returns the sign of a number and returns the value 1 if it is positive, 0 if it is 0, and -1 if it is negative.



Examples of using the CHAR, TYPE and SIGN functions in excel formulas

Example 1. Given a table with character codes: from 65 — to 74:

It is necessary with the help of the CHAR to display the characters that correspond to these codes.

To do this, we enter into the cell B2 the following formula:

The function argument: Number is the character code.

As a result of the calculations we get:

How to use the CHAR in formulas in practice? For example, we need to display a text string in single quotes. For Excel, a single quote as the first character is a special character that converts any cell value to a text data type. Therefore, in the cell itself, the single quote as the first character is not displayed:

To solve this problem, we use the following formula with the function =CHAR(39)

It is also useful to use this function when you need to make a line break in an Excel cell as a formula. And for other similar tasks.

The value 39 in the function argument, you guessed it, is the character code of a single quote.



How to count the number of positive and negative numbers in Excel

Example 2. The table contains 3 numbers. Calculate which character has each number: positive (+), negative (-) or 0.

Let’s enter the data in the table of the form:

We introduce the formula in cell E2:

Argument: Number — any real numeric value.

By copying this formula down, we get:

First, we calculate the number of negative and positive numbers in the columns «Profit» and «SIGN»:

And now we summarize only positive or only negative numbers:

How to make a negative number positive and positive negative? It is very simple to multiply by -1:

You can even simplify the formula, simply put a subtraction operator sign — minus, before the cell reference:

But what if you need to make a number with any sign positive? Then you should use the ABS function. This function returns any number by module:

Now it is not difficult to guess how to make any number with a negative minus sign:

Or so:

Checking what types of cell input data in an Excel spreadsheet

Example 3. Using the TYPE function, display the type of data that is entered in the table:

TYPE function returns the code of the data types that can be entered into an Excel cell:

We introduce the formula for the calculation in cell B2:

Argument: Value is any valid value.

As a result, we get:

Download examples functions CHAR SIGN TYPE in Excel

Thus, using the TYPE function, you can always check what the Excel cell actually contains. Note that the date is defined by the function as a number. For Excel, any date is a numeric value that corresponds to the number of days that have passed from January 01/01/1900, to the original date. Therefore, each date in Excel should be taken as a numeric data type displayed in the cell format — “Date”.

This tutorial explains what different symbols mean in formulas in Excel and Google Sheets.

Excel is essentially used for keeping track of data and using calculations to manipulate this data. All calculations in Excel are done by means of formulas, and all formulas are made up of different symbols or operators, depending on what function the formula is performing.

Equal Sign (=)

The most commonly used symbol in Excel is the equal (=) sign. Every single formula or function used has to start with equals to let Excel know that a formula is being used. If you wish to reference a cell in a formula, it has to have an equal sign before the cell address. Otherwise, Excel just shows the cell address as standard text.

In the above example, if you type (1) =B2 in cell D2, it returns a value of (2) 10. However, typing only (3) B3 into cell D3 just shows “B3” in the cell, and there is no reference to the value 20.

Standard Operators

The next most common symbols in Excel are the standard operators as used on a calculator: plus (+), minus (–), multiply (*) and divide (/). Note that the multiplication sign is not the standard multiplication sign (x) but is depicted by an asterisk (*) while the division sign is not the standard division sign (÷) but is depicted by the forward slash (/).

An example of a formula using addition and multiplication is shown below:

=B1+B2*B3

Order of Operations and Adding Parentheses

In the formula shown above, B2*B3 is calculated first, as in standard mathematics. The order of operations is always multiplication before addition. However, you can adjust the order of operations by adding parentheses (round brackets) to the formula; any calculations between these parentheses would then be done first before the multiplication. Parentheses, therefore, are another example of symbols used in Excel.

=(B1+B2)*B3

In the example shown above, the first formula returns a value of 610 while the second formula (using parentheses) returns 900.

Parentheses are also used with all Excel functions. For example, to sum B3, B4, and B5 together, you can use the SUM Function where the range B3:B5 is contained within parentheses.

=SUM(B3:B5)

Colon (:) to Specify a Range of Cells

In the formula used above, the parentheses contain the cell range which the SUM Function needs to add together. This cell range is expressed with a colon (:) where the first cell reference (B3) is the cell address of the first cell included in the range of cells to add together, while the second cell reference (B5) is the cell address of the last cell included in the range.

Dollar Symbol ($) in an Absolute Reference

A particular useful and common symbol used in Excel is the dollar sign within a formula. Note that this does not indicate currency; rather, it’s used to “fix” a cell address in place in order that a single cell can be used repetitively in multiple formulas by copying formulas between cells.

=C6*$C$3

By adding a dollar sign ($) in front of the column header (C) and the row header (3), when copying the formula down to Rows 7–15 in the example below, the first part of the formula (e.g., C6) changes according to the row it is copied down to while the second part of the formula ($C$3) stays static always enabling the formula to refer to the value stored in cell C3.

See: Cell References and Absolute Cell Reference Shortcut for more information on absolute references.

Exclamation Point (!) to Indicate a Sheet Name

The exclamation point (!) is critical if you want to create a formula in a sheet and include a reference to a different sheet.

=SUM(Sheet1!B2:B4)

Square Brackets [ ] to Refer to External Workbooks

Excel uses square brackets to show references to linked workbooks. The name of the external workbook is enclosed in square brackets, while the sheet name in that workbook appears after the brackets with an exclamation point at the end.

Comma (,)

The comma has two uses in Excel.

Refer to Multiple Ranges

If you wish to use multiple ranges in a function (e.g., the SUM Function), you can use a comma to separate the ranges.

=SUM(B2:B3, B6:B10)

Separate Arguments in a Function

Alternatively, some built in Excel functions have multiple arguments which are usually separated with commas. (These can also be semicolons, depending on the function syntax.)

=VLOOKUP(H5, B6:E15, 4, FALSE)

Curly Brackets { } in Array Formulas

Curly brackets are used in array formulas. An array formula is created by pressing the CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER keys together when entering a formula.

Other Important Symbols

Symbols in Formulas in Google Sheets

The symbols used in Google Sheets are identical to those used in Excel.