Excel Displaying Fractions

Writing and Displaying Fractions

Fractions in Excel can be very exciting. Displaying and working with simple fractions, mixed numbers, and even having Excel convert improper fractions can be fun. Excel does not automatically display the numerator over the denominator. There are a number of ways to have Excel display a fraction. One method is direct keying into a cell, and the other is to use the "Format Cells" area. After learning how to key in or set up cells for fractions, you can make Excel calculate fraction problems and even convert improper fractions. This can be a great time saver if you are working with a large amount of data.

Practice the following to develop this skill. Where fractions are written you may need to use your right arrow key to read them one item at a time.

Direct Keying Into the Cell Method

1. Open Excel. If you are in Excel 2013 hit either the Escape or the Enter key to open a blank spread sheet.
2. You are in cell a1. Type "1 1/2" (without the quotes).
3. Hit the Enter key one time.
4. Up arrow one time and you should hear 1 1/2 or one and one half.
5. Hit the Enter key one time to move to cell a2.
6. Type "2 11/2" (without the quotes).
7. Hit the Enter key one time.
8. Up arrow one time and you should hear 7 1/2 or seven and one half. Excel just converted the improper fraction for you!
9. Hit the Enter key one time to move to cell a3.
10. Type "1 1/2" (without the quotes).
11. Hit the Enter key one time.
12. Up arrow one time and you should hear 1 1/2 or one and one half.
13. Hit the F2 (edit cell) key one time.
14. Hit the left arrow key two times to move to the left of the decimal point.
15. Hit the back space key one time to erase the whole number 1.
16. Hit the Enter key one time.
17. Up arrow one time and you should hear 1/2 or one half.
18. Down arrow one time to move to cell a3.
19. Type "=1/2" (without the quotes).
20. Hit the Enter key one time.
21. Up arrow one time and you should hear .5 or point five--Excel just converted the simple fraction to a decimal!
22. Hit the Enter key one time and experiment on your own.

Using Direct Keying Into the Cell to Add, Subtract, Multiply and Divide Simple and Mixed Fractions

1. Open Excel. If you are in Excel 2013 hit either the Escape or the Enter key to open a blank spread sheet.
2. Type "=1/2+1/2" (without the quotes and no spaces).
3. Hit the Enter key one time.
4. Up arrow one time and you should hear the whole number 1.
5. Down arrow one time to move to cell a2.
6. Type "=1/2-1/2" (without the quotes and no spaces).
7. Hit the Enter key one time.
8. Up arrow one time and you should hear 0 or zero.
9. Hit the Enter key one time to move to cell a3.
10. Type "=1/2*1/2" (without the quotes and no spaces).
11. Hit the Enter key one time.
12. Up arrow one time and you should hear 0.25 or zero point two five.
13. Down arrow one time to move to cell a4.
14. Type "=1/2/1/2" (without the quotes and no spaces).
15. Hit the Enter key one time.
16. Up arrow one time and you should hear 0.25 or zero point two five.
17. Down arrow one time to move to cell a5.
18. Type "=1 1/2/1 1/2" (without the quotes, and no spaces except between each whole number and fraction--be careful!)
19. Hit the Enter key one time.
20. Up arrow one time and you should hear the whole number 3.
21. Down arrow one time to move to cell a6 and experiment on your own.

Using the Control 1 or Applications Key Method for Setting Up a Cell or Cells to Use Fractions

Excel "Format Cells" dialogue box can be reached from the Excel ribbon, the Applications key the letter f, or the Control 1 key command. If you use the ribbon, move to the Home tab, down arrow one time, and tab to a combo box that says "General." Down arrow to the "Fraction" item and hit the Enter key one time. The cell you are on, or the group of highlighted cells are now set to accept fractions. The ribbon method takes time and a lot of tabbing. For speed, we will focus on the Control 1 method.

1. Open Excel. If you are in Excel 2013 hit either the Escape or the Enter key to open a blank spread sheet.
2. Press and hold down the Control key and hit the number 1 key located above the alphabet keys.
3. You are in the "Format Cells" dialogue box, on a tab that should say "Number." If you are not on the "Number" item, right arrow repeatedly until you are on it.
4. Hit the Tab key one time to move to the "Category" list.
5. Down arrow until you hear "Fraction" and do not hit Enter!
6. Hit the Tab key one time and you are in the "Type" list.
7. Use your down or up arrow keys to select the type of fraction you want--by default you are on the top item which is "Up to one digit (1/4)".
8. Hit the Enter key one time and you are ready to type your fraction in the cell.
9. Hit the Enter key after you have type your fraction, and repeat steps "2 through 8" above until you quick and accurate.

NOTE: If you want to use the Applications key method instead of Control 1, hit the Applications key one time, and then hit the letter f to immediately open the "Format Cells" dialogue box, or down arrow to the "Format Cells" item and Hit the Enter key one time to open the "Format Cells" dialogue box. The "Format Cells" dialogue box that you just opened is exactly the same as the one that opened when you used the Control 1 method. The ribbon method is more generic, takes longer, and is advised only if you cannot remember the Control 1 or Applications key method.

CHALLENGE: Use your Shift and arrow key to highlight a group of cells, and then try the Control 1 or Applications key method to set up cells for fractions. If you do this, after you hit Enter on the "Fractions" item, remember to use on of your arrow keys to go out of highlight mode. Also, it is very important to remember which cells you highlighted in order for you to be able to move to, and write fractions into them.

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