negative numbers

[Guest]

when you format negative numbers into positive numbers is it still a negative
number?

 

[Bob Phillips]

Indeed it is. Formatting is just a presentation layer, the underlying data
is unchanged.

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(replace somewhere in email address with gmail if mailing direct)

 

[Ron Rosenfeld]

when you format negative numbers into positive numbers is it still a negative
number?

I'm not sure what you mean when you write "format negative numbers into
positive numbers".

However, with regard to numbers, formatting (Format/Cells/Number ...) only
changes the display. Formatting does not change the underlying value.


--ron

 

[Dave]

Raysa

If you mean that you formatted the cell so that it does not show the "-"
sign then yes it is still a negative number. You can prove this by setting
another cell equal to the first cell (ie. if the number is in A1 set B1 to
=A1) and format the new cell to general or number and it should show the "-"
sign.

If you mean that you muliplied the number by -1 to remove the "-" sign or id
a ABS() of the cell then no it is no longer negative.

Dave