Using TEXT or FRAC Functions to Convert Decimal Numbers to Fractions
Besides using cell formatting, you can also use Excel functions to convert decimal numbers to fractions. Excel functions are pre-built formulas that can perform certain calculations or data manipulations.
There are two Excel functions you can use to convert decimal numbers to fractions, namely the TEXT function and the FRAC function.
TEXT function
The TEXT function is an Excel function that can convert numeric values to text with a specific format. The TEXT function has the following syntax:
=TEXT(value, format_text)
Where:
- value is the numeric value that you want to convert to text.
- format_text is a text formatting code that specifies how numeric values are displayed as text.
You can use the TEXT function to convert a decimal number to a fraction using the same text format code as the custom cell format code for the fraction. For example, if you want to convert the decimal number 0.5 to a fraction with a numerator and single-digit denominator, you can use the following formula:
=TEXT(0.5, “# ?/?” )
This formula returns 1/2 of the text in the cell where the formula is entered.
Note that the TEXT function returns a text value, not a numeric value. This means that you cannot perform mathematical calculations with values returned by the TEXT function. If you want to perform mathematical calculations with fractions, you must use the FRAC function.
FRAC function
The FRAC function is an Excel function that can convert decimal numbers to simple fractions with the smallest possible numerator and denominator. The FRAC function has the following syntax:
=FRAC(number)
Where:
- number is the decimal number that you want to convert to a simple fraction.
You can use the FRAC function to convert decimal numbers to simple fractions easily. For example, if you want to convert the decimal number 0.5 to a simple fraction, you can use the following formula:
=FRAC(0.5)
This formula returns the numeric value 1/2 in the cell where the formula is entered.
Note that the FRAC function returns a numeric value, not a text value. This means that you can perform mathematical calculations with the values returned by the FRAC function.
Solving Common Problems You May Face When Working with Fractions in Excel
When working with fractions in Excel, you may face some common problems that could interrupt your work. Here are some common problems you may face when working with fractions in Excel, along with how to solve them:
Excel displays decimal numbers instead of fractions
One of the common problems you may face when working with fractions in Excel is that Excel displays decimal numbers instead of fractions in cells. For example, if you enter the value 1/2 in a cell, Excel displays 0.5 in that cell.
This happens because Excel, by default uses the “General” format for cells, which means Excel will display numeric values according to the most appropriate data type. Excel displays the decimal number if the numeric value is a decimal number.
To solve this problem, change the cell format to “Fraction”, as described earlier. That way, Excel will display numbers as fractions according to the selected cell format.
Excel Displays Incorrect Fractions
Another problem you may face when working with fractions in Excel is that Excel displays incorrect fractions in cells. For example, if you enter the value 3/8 in a cell, Excel displays 1/4 in that cell.
This occurs because Excel automatically rounds the fraction value to the nearest fractional value that corresponds to the cell format. If the cell format is “As halve s (1/2)”, Excel rounds all fractional values to 1/2 or 0. If the cell format is “As quarters (1/4)”, Excel rounds all fractional values to 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, or 0. And so on.
To solve this problem, you must change the cell format to a fractional format that is more appropriate for the fraction value you entered. For example, if you want to display the value 3/8 as a fraction, change the cell format to “As eighths (1/8)” or “Up to two digits (21/25)”.