Converting Negative Numbers to Positive in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Excel is a versatile tool, but it can be frustrating when we have negative numbers in our data. These negative numbers can often make our calculations and analysis more difficult, especially if we are trying to create charts or graphs. However, with Excel, there is a simple way to make negative numbers positive, making our work much easier.

In this article, we will examine some simple techniques for turning negative numbers into positive ones in Excel. We will go over the basics of formatting cells, using the ABS function, and more. Whether you are an Excel beginner or a seasoned pro, our tips will help you get the most out of your data and make your life easier!

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SECTION TWO: Techniques to Make Negative Numbers Positive in Excel

If you’re working with a list of data that contains both positive and negative numbers, you might want to make all negative numbers positive. Doing so allows you to perform calculations more easily, as well as present the data in a more positive light.

Fortunately, Excel provides several ways to convert negative numbers into positive ones. Here are ten techniques you can use:

1. Using Abs Function

One of the simplest ways to make negative numbers positive in Excel is by using the ABS (absolute value) function. This function returns the absolute value of a number, regardless of whether it’s positive or negative. To use the ABS function, simply select the cell where you want to display the positive number, type in “=ABS(” and then select the cell containing the negative number. Close the parenthesis and press Enter. The positive version of the negative number should now appear in the cell.

2. Using Paste Special Function

You can also use the Paste Special function to make negative numbers positive. First, select the range of cells containing the negative numbers. Then, right-click and select “Copy” or press Ctrl+C. Next, right-click on a cell where you want to paste the positive numbers, and select “Paste Special.” From the options, check the box that says “Values” and “Multiply” and click OK.

3. Using Find and Replace Function

Another way to make negative numbers positive is by using the Find and Replace function. Press Ctrl+H or click on the Home tab and select “Replace.” Find the negative sign (-) by typing it into the “Find what” box. Leave the “Replace with” box empty and click “Replace all.” Voila! All negative numbers should now appear as positive.

4. Using Conditional Formatting Function

Excel’s Conditional Formatting function enables you to highlight negative numbers and then format them as positive. First, select the cells containing negative numbers. Click on the Home tab, select “Conditional Formatting,” and then click on “New Rule.” Then, select “Format only cells that contain” and choose “Less than” from the top dropdown option. In the second box, enter “0,” and then click on the format button. Select the font color of your choice and click “OK” to close the formatting window.

5. Using If Function

The IF function is another way to make negative numbers positive. In a blank cell, enter “=IF(” and then select the cell containing the negative number. Then, enter “<0,” followed by the positive version of the number after the comma. Close the parenthesis and press Enter. The positive version of the negative number will appear in the blank cell.

6. Using Multiply Function

To make a negative number positive with the Multiply function, enter “1” in a blank cell and select it. Then enter the negative number with a minus (-) sign preceding it, followed by the multiplication symbol (*), and the number “1” again without the minus sign. Press enter and the result will appear as a positive number.

7. Using Power Function

You can also use the Power function to make a negative number positive. In a blank cell, type “=power(1,” followed by the negative number and the power of 2 or the squared symbol (^2). Close off the parenthesis and press Enter. The positive version of the negative number should now appear in the cell.

8. Using the Minus Function

Another way to make a negative number positive is by using the Minus function. Type “=-(Cell Address),” followed by the minus sign and the cell address containing the negative number. The result should appear as a positive number in the cell.

9. Using Custom Formats Function

You can also apply a custom number format to make negative numbers appear positive. Select the cells containing the negative numbers, then press Ctrl+1 or choose “Format Cells.” Click on the “Number” tab, and in the “Custom” category section, enter “0;0;” in the “Type” field. Then click “OK.”

10. Using VBA Macro Function

Finally, if you want to make negative numbers positive for an entire column, you can use a VBA macro. Open up the Visual Basic Editor by pressing Alt+F11, then navigate to “Insert,” select “Module,” and enter the following code:

Sub MakePositive()
For Each cell In Selection
If cell.Value < 0 Then
cell.Value = -cell.Value
End If
Next cell
End Sub

This macro will iterate through each cell of the selected column, checking if it’s a negative number and then setting the value of that cell to its positive equivalent.

In conclusion, there are multiple ways to convert negative numbers in Excel to positive numbers. Whether you use the Abs function, Paste Special function, Find and Replace function, Conditional Formatting function, If function, Multiply function, Power function, Minus function, custom formats function or VBA macro function depends on your preference and workflow. Regardless of which method you choose, with a little practice, you’ll be able to quickly convert negative numbers to positive ones in no time!

10 Methods to Make Negative Numbers Positive in Excel

Are you tired of dealing with negative numbers in your Excel worksheets? Although negative numbers can sometimes be helpful in financial analyses, they often mess up calculations and make it difficult to read reports. Nevertheless, there are a variety of simple solutions that can help you turn negative numbers into positive ones. Here is a list of ten different methods that you can use to make negative numbers positive in Excel.

Method 1: Use the ABS Function

The ABS function stands for “absolute value,” which means that it will always return a positive number, regardless of whether the number is positive or negative. To use ABS, simply enter “=ABS” into an empty cell, followed by the cell reference of the negative number. For instance, if cell A1 contains the negative value “-5,” enter “=ABS(A1)” into an empty cell, and it will display the positive value “5.”

Method 2: Multiply by -1

Another way to flip a negative to a positive value is to multiply it by -1. To do so, enter “=A1*-1” in a cell, where cell A1 is the cell reference to the original negative number. The answer will give you a positive numerical value.

Method 3: Use Paste Special

The “Paste Special” feature in Excel can perform various calculations and transformations. You can use Paste Special’s “Multiply” feature to flip negative numbers to positive ones. Copy the cell that contains the negative value, right-click on the cell where you want to paste, and select “Paste Special.” Select “Values” and “Multiply” in the Paste Special options menu. This method will replace the negative values with positive ones without changing the format or style of the worksheet.

Method 4: Use Conditional Formatting

Conditional formatting is a powerful Excel tool that lets you detect and highlight cells that meet specific criteria. You can use this feature to transform negative numbers into positive ones. Select the entire column or range that contains negative values, click “Conditional Formatting” from the home menu, select “Format Cells If,” and then, in the next box, where it says “Less Than,” enter “0.” Finally, choose “Custom Format” and select the “positive” format. This way, all negative values will be highlighted as positive ones.

Method 5: Use the SIGN Function

The SIGN function returns -1 if the value in the reference is negative and 1 if the value is positive. To convert negative values to positive ones using SIGN, multiply the absolute value of the cell by the SIGN function. By doing this, you will get the positive equivalent of the cell reference. For example, to convert “-5” to “5,” you can enter “=ABS(A1)*SIGN(A1)” into a cell.

Method 6: Use Find and Replace

Find and replace is a quick and easy way to change negative numbers to positive ones. Simply choose the cell or range of cells that contain the negative number, press “CTRL+H” on your keyboard, enter “-” into the “Find What” box, and leave the replace box empty. Then click on “Find All” to select the negative numbers, then close the dialog box. Select one of the negative numbers from the list and then press “Ctrl+C.” Next, press “ESC” to dismiss the “Find All” window. Paste (Ctrl+V) in a blank cell, then multiply by -1 to transform negative numbers to positive.

Method 7: Use Formula Auditing

Use Formula auditing to trace each formula’s calculation process within the worksheet. The process involves all the cell references that the formula uses from start to finish. Double click on the negative number cell and navigate to the Formula Auditing tab from the top menu to “Evaluate Formula.” The Excel workbook will display the full calculation process. At the end, you will see the positive output.

Method 8: Invert Negative Numbers by Using a Table

You can also invert negative numbers to positive numbers by using a conversion table. In this method, you need to create a list or table of your negative numbers and their corresponding positive values. Next, use the “VLOOKUP” function in a separate column to match each negative number with its equivalent positive number.

Method 9: Use IFERROR Function to Transform Negative Numbers to Positive

The IFERROR function is a powerful method for catching errors that could creep into the worksheet. It can also transform negative numbers to positive ones. This method can avoid distorting the calculations and result, even if the negative values are found in merged cells. You can enter “=IFERROR(ABS(A1),A1)” into a cell where cell A1 contains the negative number. IFERROR will capture any #VALUE! errors in the formula and output the original negative value.

Method 10: Use a Custom Format to Make Negative Numbers Positive

The Custom Format is another simple method that converts negative numbers to positive ones in Excel. This method only applies when changing the format of the cells. To do so, right-click on the cell, select “Format Cells,” followed by “Custom,” and enter “0;0” into the Type field. This format will ensure that the negative numbers become positive, while the positive values are displayed as-is.

In conclusion, transforming negative numbers to positive in Excel can be a simple or complicated process, depending on the method you choose to employ. The above ten methods are all easy to use and will help you perform your calculations with greater precision and clarity.

3. Using Excel’s ABS Function to Make Negative Numbers Positive

Excel’s ABS function is another simple way to convert negative numbers to positive numbers in an Excel spreadsheet. ABS stands for “absolute value.” This is the positive version of a number, regardless of whether it’s originally negative or positive.

To use the ABS function, follow these steps:

For example, if you want to convert -25 to a positive number, type “=ABS(-25)” and press enter. The result will be 25.

You can also use the ABS function in a formula. For instance, if you have a formula that returns a negative number but you need the positive value, just encapsulate that formula in the ABS function.

The ABS feature is important because it’s flexible and you can use it with different formulas in Excel. In a similar way to how you can use the ABS function, it’s easy to modify any numbers in your spreadsheet that may be negative to become positive and denote this for different reporting and computation purposes.

One caveat: The ABS function will only change negative numbers to positive. If you have a mix of negative and positive numbers in a column — as part of your table of data, for example — using this function will make it hard to distinguish between the two, which can be problematic in analyzing and understanding your data.

If you want to ensure negative numbers retain their formatting to make understanding and analyzing your data easier, it’s better to use one of the other methods we’ve explained above, such as multiplying the number by -1 or using the IF function to distinguish between negative and positive values.

Wrapping Up

And there you have it, folks! Now you know how to turn those pesky negative numbers into positives within Excel. We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any other Excel-related questions, be sure to visit us again. Thanks for tuning in, and happy computing!