Excel: Mathematically Applying One Number to a Group of Cells

• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
• Microsoft Excel version 7.0 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

There are certain situations in Microsoft Excel when you need to apply an arithmetic operation to a large range of cells on your worksheet. Using the Paste Special command, you can add, subtract, multiply, or divide a range of cells with the contents of a cell that is copied to the clipboard.

MORE INFORMATION

The following example illustrates using the paste special command to change a set of positive values into negative values.

1. Enter the following values into a new worksheet:

      A1: 3   B1: 4
      A2: 5   B2: 6
      A3: 10  B3: 12
   
   

2. Enter the value -1 into cell D1.

3. Select cell D1.

4. Click Copy in the Edit menu.

5. Select cells A1:B3.

6. Click Paste Special on the Edit menu.

7. In the Paste Special dialog box, click Multiply, then click OK.

NOTE: When this operation is performed, the formatting of the copied cell

      is also pasted into the selected range. To avoid pasting the
      formatting of the copied cell, click Values in the Paste Special
      dialog box.