Excel is great for working with numbers. Sometimes, we need to make positive numbers negative. This could be for tracking expenses, losses, or other reasons. Here’s how you can easily turn numbers negative in Excel:
1. The Simple Minus Sign
The easiest way is to just add a minus sign (-) in front of the number.
- How to do it: Type the minus sign before entering the number, or edit a cell by placing the minus before the value.
Example:
Type -100 instead of 100.
2. Multiplying by -1
You can change a number to negative by multiplying it by -1. You can do this in two ways:
Option 1: In the same cell
- Type -1 in any empty cell.
- Copy the -1 (Ctrl+C).
- Select the cell with the number you want to change.
- Right-click and select Paste Special > Multiply.
Option 2: In a different cell
- In an empty cell, type =A1*-1 (replace A1 with the cell you want to make negative).
- Press Enter.
Example:
If A1 has 100, type =A1*-1 to get -100.
3. Using the ABS Function
The ABS function returns a number without the sign (absolute value). You can make it negative by multiplying the result by -1.
How to do it:
- Type =-ABS(A1) (replace A1 with your cell).
- Press Enter.
This ensures that even if the number is positive, it will be changed to negative.
Example:
If A1 has 100, =-ABS(A1) will return -100.
4. Number Formatting (Only for Display)
This method changes how the number looks, but doesn't actually change the value. It's only for visual purposes.
How to do it:
- Right-click on the cell and choose Format Cells.
- Go to the Number tab.
- Choose a format that shows negative numbers with a minus sign or parentheses.
- Click OK.
Which Method Should You Use?
- Minus sign or multiply by -1: These methods actually change the number, which is needed for calculations.
- ABS function: Good for making sure all numbers are negative, even if they start positive.
- Number formatting: Changes only the appearance of the number, not its actual value.