A number in Excel refers to a numerical value that can be used in calculations. Excel can recognize and process various types of numerical data. The ISNUMBER function in Excel is specifically designed to help you determine whether a cell contains a numerical value or not. This function is part of the IS functions group and is available across different Excel versions.
Understanding Numbers in Excel
Excel interprets numbers in a specific way, distinguishing them from text and other data types. Here's a breakdown:
- Numerical Values: These are values that Excel can perform calculations with. This includes integers, decimals, and numbers in scientific notation.
- Example: 10, 3.14, -5, 6.02E23
- Number Formatting: While numbers themselves are values, Excel allows you to format their display (e.g., as currency, percentage, dates). This changes how they appear but doesn't alter their underlying numerical value.
- Text vs. Number: Excel distinguishes between numbers and text. If a number is formatted as text, it cannot be used in calculations unless converted back to a number.
Using the ISNUMBER Function
The ISNUMBER function is helpful when dealing with data of mixed formats to check if a cell contains a valid number.
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| ISNUMBER(value) | Returns TRUE if the value refers to a number. Otherwise, it returns FALSE. The input can be a cell reference. |
Examples:
=ISNUMBER(10)returns TRUE=ISNUMBER("10")returns FALSE (because "10" is treated as text)- If cell A1 contains the value 5, then
=ISNUMBER(A1)returns TRUE - If cell B1 contains the text "Hello", then
=ISNUMBER(B1)returns FALSE
Practical Use Case:
- You receive a spreadsheet with mixed data, and some numbers might be formatted as text.
- Use
ISNUMBERin an adjacent column to identify which cells contain numbers and which don’t. - Use a filter to isolate the cells with text to correct or convert them to numeric format.
Key Considerations
- Dates and Times: In Excel, dates and times are stored as numbers internally. Therefore, ISNUMBER will return TRUE for cells containing dates and times.
- Blank Cells: An empty cell will not return a number and will therefore cause the function to return FALSE.
- Error Values: If the cell contains an error value like #VALUE!, then the ISNUMBER function will return FALSE.
Availability
The ISNUMBER function is widely available in Excel:
- Excel for Office 365
- Excel 2019
- Excel 2016
- Excel 2013
- Excel 2010
- Excel 2007 and lower
In summary, numbers in Excel are values that Excel can use in calculations. The ISNUMBER function is a powerful tool for identifying cells that hold numerical values.
