There are a variety of ways in Excel to eliminate decimal points and shortening number values. In this post, we discuss how to utilize the TRUNC function and what makes it various from other strategies.

What Is the TRUNC Function?

The TRUNC function truncates a number to a defined variety of decimal locations. The crucial element that makes TRUNC different from other functions that get rid of decimal places is that the TRUNC function does not round worths. If you utilize TRUNC to eliminate all the decimals from the worth 4.68, the outcome is 4.

The TRUNC function needs 2 pieces of details:

The number is the value you want to truncate. Digits are the number of numerals you wish to truncate the worth to. The digits portion is optional, and if not answered, TRUNC will eliminate all decimal locations.

How to Use the TRUNC Function

Let’s look at examples of the TRUNC function with some sample data. The listed below example utilizes the following TRUNC function.

If you do not define the number of digits to truncate, all decimal locations will be eliminated.

You can see with the worth in cell A2 that the TRUNC function does not apply any rounding. It just truncates the number to 411.

Let’s see another example. This time we will minimize the values to 2 decimal places.

The TRUNC function will not display additional decimals if you ask it to reveal more than you have.

Take the copying, and let’s truncate it to two decimal locations.

The value in cell A4 is minimized to 2 decimal locations, however the worths in A2 and A3 stay as they are due to the fact that they have less than 2 decimal places already.

If you wish to show the 2 decimals, the cells will require to be formatted to be forced to reveal them.

Remove the Time from a Date-Time Stamp

A helpful example of TRUNC is to get rid of the time from a date and time stamp in Excel.

Envision having the following date and time stamps, however we simply desire the date in a column for analysis.

The following formula will work to eliminate the time.

The time is gotten rid of, the resulting cells will still require to be formatted as a date just.

Use TRUNC to Shorten Numbers

This is an unusual method, however it deserves understanding that the TRUNC function will also accept unfavorable numbers for the digits argument. When you utilize a negative number, the formula truncates the numbers to the left of the decimal point. It does not alter the number of digits. It will replace them with nos.

Let’s take a look at the copying.

You can see in each example that no was utilized to replace the number that was removed from the left of the decimal point.

There are numerous methods Excel to remove decimal locations, nevertheless, the majority of these will apply a rounding of some nature. The strength of the TRUNC function is that it does not round worths and just shortens them to the defined decimal location quantity.

The TRUNC function truncates a number to a specified number of decimal locations. The crucial aspect that makes TRUNC different from other functions that remove decimal places is that the TRUNC function does not round worths. Let’s look at examples of the TRUNC function with some sample data. You can see with the value in cell A2 that the TRUNC function does not use any rounding. When you utilize an unfavorable number, the formula truncates the numbers to the left of the decimal point.