TLC Tips of the Week:                          from Helen Olberg

This tip applies to entering fractions and mixed numbers into cells of Excel.

 When you try to enter a fraction in an Excel cell, like 1/2 or 3/4, Excel automatically converts and formats it as a date. It is possible to enter a fraction or a mixed number and have Excel show it as a formatted fraction, even though Excel has stored it as a decimal.

 To enter a mixed number:

• Enter the first number.
• Press Spacebar.
• Then enter the fraction.

To enter a simple fraction:

• Enter the number 0.
• Then enter the fraction into the cell. (If you don’t put the 0 in, Excel will again think that you are entering a date.)

To see the decimal equivalent of the mixed number or simple fraction you entered, click on the cell and look in the Formula bar. It will display as the decimal form.

You can also format any cell to show the mixed number or fraction equivalent of a number by formatting the cell to Fraction.

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