How to Make Numbers in Excel Not Simplify Fractions

Microsoft Excel offers a large set of built-in tools for entering, manipulating and displaying tables of text and data. Excel users can control how spreadsheet information is displayed, such as adjusting fonts and changing numerical formats for dates, currency or scientific notation. Excel's default handling of numbers automatically simplifies fractions, so that "2/4" is displayed as "1/2" in fraction format and as "0.5" in decimal format. You can adjust formatting options to keep fractions as originally typed.

Instructions

1. Click on the empty cell into which you want to enter a fraction.

2. Right-click to open a menu of options and select "Format Cells."

3. Click the "Number" tab in the options box that displays.

4. Click "Custom" to open a list of customized number formats.

5. Click "# ??/??" in the list.

6. Modify the format as it appears in the "Type" box to include the denominator you want to retain for the fraction. For example, to retain the fraction "2/4," change "# ??/??" to "# ??/4" and to retain "200/400," change the format to "# ??/400."

7. Click "OK" to close the options box.

8. Type the fraction in the cell and it will adhere to the customized format instead of being automatically simplified.

9. Repeat the process for each fraction you want to retain in its original entry form. You must specify the appropriate denominator for the fraction to avoid simplification.

References

• Excel Tips: Stopping Fractions From Reducing
• Microsoft Office: Create or Delete a Custom Number Format