Excel: Entering Fractions Without Decimal Values

• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 4.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, when fractional values are entered in a nondecimal form (that is, 1/2 or 11/16), a 0 (zero) and a space must be typed before each fraction. If a zero and a space are not typed, Excel interprets the fraction as a date or as text.

Fractions that have a numerator of 12 or less or a denominator of 99 or less will be interpreted as dates. "12/99" without a space before it will be interpreted as "December 1999". If the numerator is greater than 12, or if the denominator is greater than 99, the fraction will be interpreted as text.

NOTE: Fractions entered into Excel version 2.20 or earlier will always be interpreted as dates or as text.

REFERENCES

For more information on fractions, see page 112 of the "Microsoft Excel User's Guide 1," version 4.0 or for version 3.0 see page 92 of the "Microsoft Excel User's Guide."

Additional query words: 4.00

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Last Reviewed: March 21, 1999