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How to Use Floor Function in Excel (Simplest Steps with Examples)

November 6, 2023 1.5K views

In the realm of Excel's advanced mathematical functions, learning the practical implementation of the FLOOR function in Excel can really boost your data management skills. FLOOR function is valuable for finance professionals and other data analysts who want to fine-tune their data for exact insights. This preface inquires the nuances of using this function and how to avoid common errors. Sometimes, conflicts arise while data is required to conform to certain intervals or constraints, a common query arises "How can I accurately round down numbers while maintaining accuracy?" This guide provides clear steps and examples on how to use the FLOOR function in Excel.

1. What is an Excel floor?

The FLOOR function in Excel is a mathematical tool that is designed to round numbers down to a stated multiple or significance. It is used to confirm that a specified number is rounded to the nearest lower value depending upon a designated interval. This function is mainly useful in scenarios where data requires adhering to particular constraints or intervals, like pricing calculations or quantitative analysis.

Here, the basic syntax of the FLOOR function is as under:

=FLOOR(number, significance)

  • Number: This refers to the value that you want to round down.

  • Significance: It refers to the multiple or interval to which you want to round down the number.

By using the FLOOR function, everyone can perfectly operate data points while maintaining accuracy in order to make it an essential tool for multiple mathematical and analytical tasks in Excel.

2. How to Use the Floor Function in Excel? (With Example)

Here is a complete step-by-step guide on the usage of the FLOOR function in Excel with appropriate examples:

Step 1. Open Excel

Launch Microsoft Excel and open a worksheet, where you want to apply the FLOOR function.

Step 2. Select a cell

Select the cell where you want to show the result. This is the location, where the rounded-down value will be shown.

Step 3. Enter the function

Write the formula in the selected cell, as:

=FLOOR(number, significance)

  • Number:    It is the value you want to round down.

  • Significance:       It refers to the multiple or interval to which you want to round down the number.

Step 4. Provide arguments

Write the actual values you are working with. For example:

=FLOOR(15.6, 5)

This formula will round down 15.6 to the nearest multiple of 5, resulting in 15.

Step 5. Press Enter

After you enter the formula with the suitable values, press the "Enter" button. Now, Excel will give the estimated rounded-down value depending upon the given arguments.

Example 1: Rounding down to multiples

Suppose that you have a list of different prices and are required to round them down to the nearest $10 increment. Use the formula as under:

=FLOOR(A5, 10)

Where column A is containing the list of prices, the function will round down the price to the nearest multiple of $10.

Example 2: Sales forecasting

Consider you are calculating sales and want to round down projected quantities to the nearest case of 12 units. The formula you will use is:

=FLOOR(B2, 12)

Where B2 contains the projected quantity and give you a rounded-down forecast aligned with case sizes.

Example 3: Budget allocation

Imagine you are allocating budget percentages and need to round down the amount to the nearest whole percent. The formula you will use is:

=FLOOR(B2, 1)

Where column C2 contains the budget percentage, you will get a whole percentage value for exact distribution.

By utilising these examples, you can effortlessly harness the FLOOR function's capabilities in Excel for multiple cases in order to ensure accurate data management and calculations.

3. How to Use the Excel Floor. Math Function? (With Example)

A comprehensive guide on how to use the FLOOR.MATH function in Excel is described as under along with step-by-step instruction, images and examples:

Step 1. Launch Microsoft Excel and open a worksheet where you want to use the FLOOR.MATH function.

Step 2. Choose the cell where you want to show the result of the FLOOR.MATH. This is the location where the rounded-down value will be displayed.

Step 3. Write the following formula:

=FLOOR.MATH(number, significance, mode)

  • Number: The value you want to round down.

  • Significance: It refers to the multiple or interval to which you want to round down the number.

  • Mode: It is an optional argument that fixes how rounding occurs (0 for downward, 1 for upward, and more).

Step 4. Write the actual values you are working with. For instance:

=FLOOR.MATH(15.7, 5, 0)

This formula will round down 15.7 to the nearest multiple of 5 and use the downward rounding mode.

Step 5. After entering the formula with the suitable values, press the "Enter" button. Excel will calculate the rounded-down value based on the given arguments.

Example 1:   Rounding down to multiples

Suppose that you are dealing with a dataset of quantities and want to round them down to the nearest 100 units. Using the formula:

=FLOOR.MATH(B5, 100, 0)

Where column B5 is having the original quantity. The Excel will round down the quantity to the nearest multiple of 100 by using the downward rounding mode.

Example 2:   Budget allocation

Imagine you are allocating budget percentages and need to round down the amount to the nearest whole percent. The formula you will use is:

=FLOOR.MATH(B5, 5, 0)

Where B5 contains the budget percentage, you will get a budget percentage rounded down to the nearest 5%.

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4. What Common Mistakes to Watch Out For When Using The Floor Function in Excel?

Some general mistakes to watch out for when using the FLOOR function in Excel is as follows:

1. The FLOOR function always rounds down to the nearest multiple of the significance value. If you do not specify the significance value, Excel will use 1 by default. So, in order to get an accurate result, do not forget to mention the significance value.

2. Keep in mind that the FLOOR function only rounds down. Therefore, if you want to round up or round to the nearest multiple, Use other related functions like CEILING or MROUND instead.

3. The thing that can lead towards incorrect results, while you want the function to round up when the number is closer to the next multiple.

4. As the FLOOR function is case-insensitive, it is necessary to make sure that spelling of the function is correct. If you misspell the function name, Excel will give an error in the result.

5. This function takes two arguments (number and significance value). If you do not identify the number of arguments properly, Excel will return an error.

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6. FAQ

1. What happens if the number is already an exact multiple of the significance value?

If the number is already an exact multiple of the significance, the FLOOR function will return the same number without any changes.

2. What is the difference between FLOOR.MATH and FLOOR.PRECISE functions?

Both FLOOR.MATH and FLOOR.PRECISE functions in Excel are used to round numbers down to the nearest specified multiple. However, they handle negative numbers differently. FLOOR.MATH always rounds down, while FLOOR.PRECISE rounds towards negative infinity.

3. How do I use the FLOOR function?

To use the FLOOR function, you need to provide two arguments (the number and significance value). For instance, =FLOOR(16.9, 5) will round 16.9 down to the nearest multiple of 5, resulting in 15.

7. Summary

In conclusion, understanding the application of the FLOOR function in Excel allows you with accurate data management and analysis capabilities. By effectively rounding numbers down to specific multiples, this function proves vital for maintaining correctness in different cases. As you explore these clear steps and descriptive examples provided in this guide, your confidence in using the FLOOR function is sure to develop. Additionally, it is worth noting that ability in similar spreadsheet tools, like WPS Office, offers an alternative platform for applying the FLOOR function.


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