Part 1: Introduce 📘
Definition 📝
- The FLOOR function in Microsoft Excel is designed to round numbers down, towards zero, to the nearest multiple of a given significance.
Purpose 🎯
- The primary objective of the FLOOR function is to facilitate the rounding down numbers to a designated multiple. This is especially beneficial in financial, statistical, and mathematical computations.
Syntax & Arguments 🛠️
syntax
FLOOR(number, significance)
- Number: Represents the numeric value you aim to round.
- Significance: Denotes the multiple to which you intend to round.
Explain the Arguments in the function 🧐
- Number: This is the value you desire to round down.
- Significance: This parameter defines the interval the number will be rounded down.
Return value 🔄
- The function yields a rounded number based on the provided significance.
Remarks ⚠️
- If either of the arguments is nonnumeric, FLOOR will return the
#VALUE!error value. - If the number is positive and the significance is negative, FLOOR will produce the
#NUM!error value.
Part 2: Examples 📊
🔹 Example 1
- Purpose of example: Demonstrating how to round 3.7 down to the nearest multiple of 2.
- Data sheet and formulas:
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Value | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 3.7 | =FLOOR(A2,2) | 2 |
- Explanation: The number 3.7, when rounded down to the closest multiple of 2, results in 2.
🔹 Example 2
- Purpose of example: Showcasing the rounding down of -2.5 to the nearest multiple of -2.
- Data sheet and formulas:
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Value | Formula | Result |
| 2 | -2.5 | =FLOOR(A2,-2) | -2 |
- Explanation: The number -2.5, when rounded down to the closest multiple of -2, gives -2.
🔹 Example 3
- Purpose of example: Illustrating an error that arises when attempting to round 2.5 with a negative significance of -2.
- Data sheet and formulas:
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Value | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 2.5 | =FLOOR(A2,-2) | #NUM! |
- Explanation: This results in an error because the number 2.5 and the significance -2 have conflicting signs.
🔹 Example 4
- Purpose of example: Demonstrating the rounding down 1.58 to the nearest multiple of 0.1.
- Data sheet and formulas:
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Value | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 1.58 | =FLOOR(A2,0.1) | 1.5 |
- Explanation: The number 1.58, when rounded down to the nearest multiple of 0.1, results in 1.5.
🔹 Example 5
- Purpose of example: To round 0.234 down to the nearest multiple 0.01.
- Data sheet and formulas:
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Value | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 0.234 | =FLOOR(A2,0.01) | 0.23 |
- Explanation: The number 0.234, when rounded down to the closest multiple of 0.01, gives 0.23.
Example 6: Using FLOOR with IF Function
- Purpose of example: To round a number down to the nearest multiple of 5 if it’s greater than 10; otherwise, return the original number.
- Data sheet and formulas:
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 12 | =IF(A2>10, FLOOR(A2,5), A2) | 10 |
- Explanation: If the number in cell A2 is greater than 10, the FLOOR function rounds it down to the nearest multiple of 5, which is 10. If not, the original number is returned.
Example 7: Using FLOOR with SUM Function
- Purpose of example: To sum three numbers and then round the sum down to the nearest multiple of 3.
- Data sheet and formulas:
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data1 | Data2 | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 4 | 5 | =FLOOR(SUM(A2:B2),3) | 9 |
- Explanation: The SUM function adds the numbers 4 and 5, and then the FLOOR function rounds the sum down to the nearest multiple of 3, which is 9.
Example 8: Using FLOOR with VLOOKUP Function
- Purpose of example: To find a value in a table using VLOOKUP and then round it down to the nearest multiple of 10.
- Data sheet and formulas:
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Key | Value | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 1 | 23 | =FLOOR(VLOOKUP(1, A2:B2, 2, FALSE), 10) | 20 |
- Explanation: The VLOOKUP function finds the value corresponding to the key 1, which is 23. The FLOOR function then rounds this value down to the nearest multiple of 10, which is 20.
Example 9: Using FLOOR with AVERAGE Function
- Purpose of example: To calculate the average of three numbers and then round it down to the nearest whole number.
- Data sheet and formulas:
| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data1 | Data2 | Data3 | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 5 | 6 | 7 | =FLOOR(AVERAGE(A2:C2), 1) | 6 |
- Explanation: The AVERAGE function calculates the average of the numbers 5, 6, and 7, and then the FLOOR function rounds this average down to the nearest whole number, which is 6.
Example 10: Using FLOOR with MAX Function
- Purpose of example: To find the maximum value among three numbers and then round it down to the nearest multiple of 5.
- Data sheet and formulas:
| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data1 | Data2 | Data3 | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 12 | 18 | 14 | =FLOOR(MAX(A2:C2), 5) | 15 |
- Explanation: The MAX function finds the maximum value among the numbers 12, 18, and 14, which is 18. The FLOOR function then rounds this value down to the nearest multiple of 5, which is 15.
Example 11: Using FLOOR with MIN Function
- Purpose of example: Find the minimum value among three numbers and then round it down to the nearest multiple of 2.
- Data sheet and formulas:
| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data1 | Data2 | Data3 | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | =FLOOR(MIN(A2:C2), 2) | 2 |
- Explanation: The MIN function finds the minimum value among the numbers 3, 5, and 4, which is 3. The FLOOR function then rounds this value down to the nearest multiple of 2, which is 2.
Example 12: Using FLOOR with CONCATENATE Function
- Purpose of example: To concatenate a string with the rounded-down value of a number to the nearest multiple of 5.
- Data sheet and formulas:
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data | Formula | Result |
| 2 | 23 | =CONCATENATE("Rounded Value: ", FLOOR(A2,5)) | Rounded Value: 20 |
- Explanation: The FLOOR function rounds the number 23 down to the nearest multiple of 5, which is 20. The CONCATENATE function then combines this value with the “Rounded Value: “string, resulting in the final text “Rounded Value: 20”.
Part 3: Tips and tricks 🌟
- Always ensure that the significance is not zero to avoid a division by zero error.
- The FLOOR function is convenient when you need to round down values in financial calculations, especially when dealing with currency.
- Exercise caution when using negative values for significance, as it can lead to unexpected results or errors.