The Excel Formatting Data Cells A fraction Knowledgbase

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Formatting Data in Cells Fractions Knowledgebase

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Excel can reformat numbers so that they appear as fractions. There are different options that allow you to choose how accurately you want excel to choose a fraction to represent your number. The number itself is always stored in excel as a digit of fixed length what changed when you format a number is the way it appears in the cell. This can be seen when you compare the function bar display with the numbers displayed in the corresponding cell

There are two main methods to call the formatting dialogue box, right clicking and selecting from the menu or using the formatting option in the main toolbar. Once the formatting dialogue box is open select the number tab to choose how you want format the appearance of data in the cell.

How to format data as Fractions Method I

Right click on the cell you want to format.
Select "Format Cells".
In the Dialogue box choose the "Number" tab.
In "Category" select "Fraction".
Set the Type to "Up to one digit".

A number can be displayed using a Varity of fractions the only difference is the level of accuracy between the true decimal value and the value of the fraction used to represent it.

Fractions can be found that are approximated to single double or triple digits for example.

The decimal 07.4......

can be approximated by ... , ..... , ...... when the value of these fractions are calculated it is clear that the most accurate is .......

Use the fraction "Type" submenu to select the format the data you want to display as a fraction.

How to format data as Fractions Method II

Select the cell you would like to format
In the Menu bar go to Format > Format Cells
In the Dialogue box choose the "Number" tab
Then in "Category" select "Fraction"
Set the Type to "Up to three digits"

excel can sometimes misinterpret fractions as dates when entered in a cell. To avoid this enter 0 space then the fraction.

once recognized as a fraction excel automatically formats the fraction to reduce it to the smallest common denominator