Encountering negative numbers in Excel can be commonplace, but it’s not always desirable. If you need to convert negative numbers into positive ones, you’ll be pleased to discover that Excel offers several straightforward methods to accomplish this task. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the various techniques available to make negative numbers positive in Excel.
Before we jump into the technicalities, let’s understand why you might want to convert negative numbers to positive ones. Negative numbers often represent losses, debts, or deficits in financial or numerical data. By converting them to positive numbers, you can present data in a more positive light or make it easier to perform certain calculations.
Using the Absolute Value Function
The absolute value function is a mathematical function that returns the absolute value of a number, effectively removing its negative sign. To use this function in Excel, simply type “=ABS()” and then enter the negative number within the parentheses. For instance, if you have a negative number -10 in cell A1, you can enter the formula “=ABS(A1)” in another cell to get the positive value 10.
Using the UNARY PLUS Operator
The unary plus operator is a simple yet effective way to convert negative numbers to positive ones. This operator is represented by the plus sign (+). You can simply precede the negative number with a plus sign to make it positive. For example, if you have a negative number -5 in cell B1, you can enter the formula “+B1” in another cell to get the positive value 5.
Using the IF Function
The IF function is a versatile function that allows you to perform conditional operations based on a specified condition. In this case, we can use the IF function to check if a number is negative and then return its absolute value or the original number if it’s positive. The syntax for the IF function is “=IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false).” In this scenario, the logical test would be to check if the number is less than 0, and the value to return if true would be the absolute value using the ABS function. The formula would look like this: “=IF(A1<0,ABS(A1),A1).” This formula ensures that if the number in cell A1 is negative, it will return the absolute value; otherwise, it will return the original number.
Using the Format Cells Option
While the methods mentioned above change the underlying value of the negative number, you can also change its appearance without affecting the actual value using the Format Cells option. Right-click on the cell containing the negative number and select Format Cells. In the Format Cells dialog box, navigate to the Number tab and select the Number format. From the Type drop-down list, choose Custom. In the Type field, enter the format code “;#;” to display positive numbers as they are and negative numbers as positive values without the negative sign. Click OK to apply the changes.
Using VBA Code
If you prefer a more advanced approach, you can utilize VBA code to convert negative numbers to positive ones. Open the Visual Basic Editor by pressing Alt + F11 and insert a new module. In the module, paste the following code:
“`
Sub MakeNegativeNumbersPositive()
Dim rng As Range
Set rng = Application.InputBox(“Select the range of cells containing negative numbers:”, Type:=8)
For Each cell In rng
If cell.Value < 0 Then
cell.Value = Abs(cell.Value)
End If
Next cell
End Sub
“`
After running this code, all negative numbers in the selected range will be converted to positive numbers.
FAQ
How to remove empty cells in excel
To remove empty cells in Excel, select the range of data containing empty cells. Go to the Home tab, click on the Find & Select drop-down arrow, and choose Go To Special. In the Go To Special dialog box, select Blanks and then click OK. Select the Delete key to remove the empty cells.
How to remove strikethrough in excel
To remove strikethrough in Excel, select the text with strikethrough. Go to the Home tab, click on the Font dialog box launcher, and uncheck the Strikethrough option in the Font tab.
How to make a row of excel available to see
To make a row of Excel available to see if it is hidden, select the row above and below the hidden row. Go to the Home tab, click on the Format drop-down arrow, and choose Unhide Rows.
How to open dat files on excel mac
To open DAT files on Excel Mac, use a third-party application such as TextWrangler or TextEdit to convert the DAT file to a CSV file. Once converted, open the CSV file in Excel.
How to remove the first character in excel
To remove the first character in Excel, use the RIGHT function. The syntax is RIGHT(text,num_chars). For example, to remove the first character from the text in cell A1, use the formula =RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-1).