Significant Figures

S

Stacy

How do I format cells to display a specified number of
significant figures, such as three significant figures:
120 and 60.0? Thanks.
 
B

Bernard Liengme

Hi Stacey:
Found in Google Search:

What about
=ROUND(A1, A2 - 1 - INT(LOG10(ABS(A1))))
to round A1 to A2 significant figures?
Jerry W. Lewis


Best wishes
Bernard
 
S

Stacy

Thank you, but the problem is getting a specified number
of significant digits displayed in Excel opposed to
diplaying a fixed number of decimal places. I need the
result of a formula to be displayed in three significant
figures. The number of decimal places will be changing
depending on the result (no d.p.'s for 120, and one d.p.
for 60.0). Thanks, Stacy
 
H

Harald Staff

Hi Stacy

Don't think this can be done without macro code. To you and me there's a difference
between 160 and 160.0 and 160.00000 , but to a computer they are the very same. So it
never thought of it and doesn't care.

But i'd be surprised if I won't be proven wrong on this soon by someone smarter :)
 
B

Bernard V Liengme

Yes, I forgot to give your the caveat that the trailing zeros have to be
ignored. My method rounds to the correct sig figs (a topic my students
hate!) but there is no automatic way to drop trailing zeros. Harald has
given you a good answer.
Bernard
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top