How to Use the SIGN Function in Excel

Today, we will delve into the SIGN function in Excel and Google Sheets, a mathematical tool that helps identify whether a number is positive, negative, or zero. This function is quite useful for classifying numerical values in spreadsheets. Let’s explore how it operates.

Syntax

The syntax for the SIGN function is consistent across both Excel and Google Sheets:

=SIGN(number)

• number: This argument is the numeric value or cell reference you want to evaluate.

Examples

Here are a few scenarios demonstrating the use of the SIGN function:

Example 1: Positive Number

Let’s say cell A1 contains the number 10. Applying the SIGN function, we get the following:

The result of =SIGN(A1) is 1, indicating that 10 is a positive number.

Example 2: Negative Number

Consider -5 in cell A1. Using the SIGN function:

The formula =SIGN(A1) returns -1, showing that -5 is negative.

Example 3: Zero

When 0 is placed in cell A1 and evaluated with the SIGN function:

The output of =SIGN(A1) is 0, since 0 is neither positive nor negative.

Use Cases

The SIGN function is extremely valuable when you need to quickly assess the sign of a number for analyses or further calculations. It can be particularly helpful in segregating data into positive, negative, or neutral groups, thereby assisting in comprehensive data analysis and decision-making.

Understanding the sign of a number is often critical for various mathematical computations and logical decisions.

Now that you are familiar with the SIGN function, apply it in your Excel and Google Sheets tasks to ease the process of identifying the numerical sign.

More information: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/sign-function-109c932d-fcdc-4023-91f1-2dd0e916a1d8