What is Decimal function in Excel?
The Decimal function is one of the math functions of Excel.
It Converts a text representation of a number in a given base into a decimal number.
We can find this function in Math & trig category of insert function Tab.
How to use Decimal function in excel
- Click on an empty cell (like F5 )
- Click on the fx icon (or press shift+F3)
3. In the insert function tab you will see all functions
4. Select math and trig category
5. Select Decimal function
6. Then select ok
7. In the function Arguments Tab you will see Decimal function
8. In the number box you must enter a number (for example 56)
9. Radix is the base number you want to convert into (for example 10)
10. If you enter (56,10) result will be 56
11. If you enter (56,7) result will be 41
12. If you enter (11,2) result will be 3
13. You will see results in the formula result section
Examples of Decimal function in Excel
- =DECIMAL(“10101010”,2) – Converts the binary number “10101010” to decimal.
- =DECIMAL(“FF”,16) – Converts the hexadecimal number “FF” to decimal.
- =DECIMAL(“1234”,5) – Converts the base-5 number “1234” to decimal.
- =DECIMAL(“11011”,2,-3) – Converts the binary number “11011” to decimal with a scaling factor of 10^-3.
- =DECIMAL(“10101”,2,2) – Converts the binary number “10101” to decimal with a scaling factor of 10^2.
- =DECIMAL(“27;15;42″,16,”;”) – Converts the hexadecimal number “27;15;42” to decimal using semicolon as the delimiter.
- =DECIMAL(“1010.1010”,2) – Converts the binary number “1010.1010” to decimal, treating the dot as a decimal separator.
- =DECIMAL(“-10101”,2) – Converts the negative binary number “-10101” to decimal.
- =DECIMAL(“101”,2)^2 – Converts the binary number “101” to decimal and then raises it to the power of 2.
- =SUM(DECIMAL(A1:A5,2)) – Converts a range of binary numbers (A1:A5) to decimal and then sums them up.
Example 1:
How to use DECIMAL function in excel
You can see examples of DECIMAL function below:
decimal(A2,B2) ----->>>>answer is 56
decimal(A3,B3) ----->>>>answer is 2
decimal(A4,B4) ----->>>>answer is 3
decimal(A5,B5) ----->>>>answer is 81
decimal(A6,B6) ----->>>>answer is 68Excel’s DECIMAL Function: What You Need to Know
The DECIMAL function in Excel is a useful tool that allows you to convert numbers of different bases to decimal. It’s easy to use and can be quite powerful when working with non-decimal number systems like binary, hexadecimal, or octal.
Understanding How Excel’s DECIMAL Function Works
Excel’s DECIMAL function works by taking a string of characters representing a number in a certain base and converting it to its decimal equivalent. It has three arguments: the number to be converted, the base of the number, and an optional scaling factor that changes the precision of the output. The resulting value is always a decimal number.
For example, if you want to convert the binary number “1010” to decimal, you would use the following formula:
=DECIMAL("1010",2)
This returns a value of 10.
Exploring the Arguments of Excel’s DECIMAL Function
As mentioned, Excel’s DECIMAL function has three arguments:
- The number to be converted
- The base of the number
- An optional scaling factor that changes the precision of the output
The number to be converted is entered as a string of characters. The base of the number is an integer between 2 and 36, indicating the number system being used. The optional scaling factor is a power of 10 that determines the number of decimal places in the output. If you omit it, the default scaling factor of 0 is used.
For instance, to convert the hexadecimal number “3F” to decimal with a scaling factor of 10^-3, you would use the following formula:
=DECIMAL("3F",16,-3)
This returns a value of 63.000.
Converting Numbers of Different Bases to Decimal in Excel using DECIMAL Function
Using Excel’s DECIMAL function, you can easily convert numbers of different bases to decimal. To do this, you just need to enter the number as a string and specify its base as the second argument in the formula.
For example, if you want to convert the octal number “17” to decimal, you would use the following formula:
=DECIMAL("17",8)
This returns a value of 15.
Handling Large Bases with Excel’s DECIMAL Function
Excel’s DECIMAL function can handle large bases, up to a maximum of 36. This means that it can be used to convert numbers in systems such as base-32 or base-36. However, note that the larger the base, the more characters are required to represent a given number, which can make the input cumbersome.
As an illustration, if you want to convert the base-32 number “FVV” to decimal, you would use the following formula:
=DECIMAL("FVV",32)
This returns a value of 81983.
Excel’s DECIMAL Function: Default Scaling Factor Explained
When using Excel’s DECIMAL function, the default scaling factor is 0. This means that the output will have no decimal places and will return an integer. If you want to change the precision of the output, you can specify a custom scaling factor as an optional third argument in the formula.
For example, if you want to convert the binary number “1010” to decimal with a scaling factor of 10^-2, you would use the following formula:
=DECIMAL("1010",2,-2)
This returns a value of 0.1.
Custom Scaling Factors with Excel’s DECIMAL Function
As mentioned, you can use a custom scaling factor with Excel’s DECIMAL function to change the precision of the output. The scaling factor is a power of 10 that determines the number of decimal places in the output.
For instance, if you want to convert the hexadecimal number “3F” to decimal with a scaling factor of 10^-4, you would use the following formula:
=DECIMAL("3F",16,-4)
This returns a value of 0.0039.
Using Negative Numbers with Excel’s DECIMAL Function
Excel’s DECIMAL function can be used with negative numbers as well. To do this, simply enter the negative number as a string with a minus sign at the beginning. The function will then convert it to its decimal equivalent along with any custom scaling factor specified.
For example, if you want to convert the binary number “-1010” to decimal, you would use the following formula:
=DECIMAL("-1010",2)
This returns a value of -10.
Non-numeric Characters and Excel’s DECIMAL Function
If the number entered into Excel’s DECIMAL function contains non-numeric characters (such as letters or symbols), the function will return a #VALUE! error. This is because the DECIMAL function can only convert numbers in a specific base to their decimal equivalent.
For instance, if you want to convert the hexadecimal number “3FQ” to decimal, you would get a #VALUE! error when using the following formula:
=DECIMAL("3FQ",16)
Converting Ranges of Numbers to Decimal in Excel using DECIMAL Function
Excel’s DECIMAL function can also be used to convert ranges of numbers to decimal. To do this, you can use an array formula that applies the DECIMAL function to each cell in the range.
For instance, if you have a range of binary numbers in cells A1:A5 and you want to convert them to decimal with a scaling factor of 10^-3, you would use the following formula:
{=DECIMAL(A1:A5,2,-3)}
Note that this is an array formula and must be entered using Ctrl+Shift+Enter for it to work properly.
Nesting the DECIMAL Function within Other Functions in Excel
Yes, you can nest the DECIMAL function within other functions in Excel. This can be useful for performing more complex calculations, such as when you need to convert a number from one base to another. For example, if you have a hexadecimal number that you want to convert to decimal, you could use the HEX2DEC function to first convert it to decimal, and then use the DECIMAL function to format the result with a specified number of decimal places.
Accuracy and Reliability of Excel’s DECIMAL Function
Excel’s DECIMAL function is accurate and reliable, but like any function, it is important to ensure that you are using it correctly and that your inputs are valid. The function rounds numbers to a specified number of decimal places, so it is important to understand how rounding works and what impact it may have on your results. For example, if you are working with financial data and need to perform calculations that involve small amounts, rounding errors can accumulate and affect your final results.
Troubleshooting Errors with Excel’s DECIMAL Function
If you encounter errors with Excel’s DECIMAL function, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot them. First, double-check that you are using the function correctly and that your inputs are valid. If you are still having issues, try simplifying your formula and testing it on a smaller set of data to isolate the problem. You can also use Excel’s built-in error checking tools to identify and fix errors automatically.
Working with Scientific Notation and Excel’s DECIMAL Function
Excel’s DECIMAL function can be used to work with numbers in scientific notation, which is a commonly used format for expressing very large or very small numbers. To convert a number from scientific notation to a decimal format with a specified number of decimal places, you can use the DECIMAL function with the appropriate arguments. For example, if you have the number 1.23E+05 and want to format it with two decimal places, you could use the formula =DECIMAL(“1.23E+05”,2).
Converting Between European and American Number Formats with Excel’s DECIMAL Function
Excel’s DECIMAL function can be used to convert between European and American number formats, which use different symbols for decimal points and thousands separators. To do this, you simply need to specify the appropriate format code when using the function. For example, if you have the number 1.234,56 in a cell formatted with the European number format, you could use the formula =DECIMAL(A1;”#.##0,00″) to convert it to the American format with two decimal places and a comma as the thousands separator.
Comparing Excel’s DECIMAL Function to Other Conversion Functions
Excel offers several functions for converting numbers between different formats and bases, including HEX2DEC, OCT2DEC, and BIN2DEC. While these functions can be useful for performing specific types of conversions, the DECIMAL function is more flexible and can be used to convert numbers in any base to decimal.
For example, if you have a number in base 8 and want to convert it to decimal, you could use the OCT2DEC function, like this:
=OCT2DEC("7654")
Alternatively, you could use the DECIMAL function with a specified base:
=DECIMAL("7654",8)
In most cases, using the DECIMAL function is more versatile because it allows you to specify the source base rather than relying on a specific conversion function.
Using Excel’s DECIMAL Function in Conditional Formatting Rules
Excel’s conditional formatting feature allows you to highlight cells based on specific criteria, such as whether their value falls within a certain range. You can also use the DECIMAL function in conditional formatting rules to format cells based on their converted value.
For example, if you have a range of hexadecimal numbers in cells A1:A10, and you want to highlight any cells where the decimal equivalent is less than 100, you could use the following formula in a conditional formatting rule:
=DECIMAL(A1,16)<100
This would highlight any cells in the range where the decimal equivalent of the hexadecimal number is less than 100.
Dynamic Ranges and Excel’s DECIMAL Function
Excel’s dynamic range feature allows you to create ranges that automatically adjust based on the size of your data. You can use the DECIMAL function in dynamic ranges by referencing the first cell in the range and using the OFFSET function to specify the range size.
For example, if you have a range of binary numbers in cells A1:A100, and you want to convert them to decimal with a scaling factor of 10^-3, you could use the following formula to create a dynamic range that converts all non-empty cells in the range:
=DECIMAL(OFFSET(A1,0,0,COUNTA(A:A),1),2,-3)
This creates a range that starts at cell A1 and extends down for as many rows as there are non-empty cells in column A. The DECIMAL function is then applied to each cell in the range, converting the binary number to decimal with a scaling factor of 10^-3.
Limits on the Size of Numbers with Excel’s DECIMAL Function
Excel’s DECIMAL function is limited in the size of numbers it can handle, both in terms of the number of digits and the magnitude of the number. The maximum number of digits the function can handle depends on the base of the input number and the amount of memory available to Excel. Very large or very small numbers may also be subject to rounding errors due to limitations of the hardware or software.
For example, if you have a binary number with 32 bits of precision, but you are converting it to decimal with a scaling factor of 10^-6, the resulting value may not be accurate beyond six decimal places.
Arrays and Matrices with Excel’s DECIMAL Function
Excel’s DECIMAL function can be used with arrays and matrices to perform batch conversions of multiple numbers at once. To apply the function across an array or matrix, simply enter the formula normally and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter instead of Enter. This will cause Excel to apply the formula to each cell in the selected range, resulting in an array or matrix of converted values.
For example, if you have a range of binary numbers in cells A1:A5 and you want to convert them to decimal with a scaling factor of 10^-3, you could use the following formula and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to apply it across the range:
=DECIMAL(A1:A5,2,-3)
This would convert each binary number in the range to its decimal equivalent with the specified scaling factor.
- BASE function
- ROUND function
- RANDOM function
- AVERAGE function
