Mathematically Applying One Number to a Group of Cells (31951)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0
This article was previously published under Q31951

SUMMARY

There are certain situations in Microsoft Excel when you need to apply an arithmetic operation to a large range of cells on your worksheet. Using the Paste Special command, you can add, subtract, multiply, or divide a range of cells with the contents of a cell that is copied to the clipboard.

MORE INFORMATION

The following example illustrates using the Paste Special command to change a set of positive values into negative values.

  1. Enter the following values into a new worksheet:

    A1: 3 B1: 4
    A2: 5 B2: 6
    A3: 10 B3: 12
  2. Enter the value -1 into cell D1.
  3. Select cell D1.
  4. On the Edit menu, click Copy.
  5. Select cells A1:B3.
  6. On the Edit menu, click Paste Special.
  7. In the Paste Special dialog box, click Multiply. Click OK.
The values contained in cells A1:B3 are now negative.

NOTE: When this operation is performed, the formatting of the copied cell is also pasted into the selected range. To avoid pasting the formatting of the copied cell, click Values in the Paste Special dialog box.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/15/2005
Keywords:kbhowto KB31951
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.