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06_798452 ch02.qxp 3/13/06 7:34 PM Page 29
Chapter 2: Formatting the Spreadsheet 29

Figure 2-2:
The Number
tab of the
Format Cells
dialog box
gives you
access to a
wide variety
of number
formats.

Try It

Exercise 2-4: Formatting Cells with Number Tab on the Format Cells Dialog Box

Open a new spreadsheet on Sheet1 of a Book1 workbook and use it to practice applying
the following number formats using the Number tab on the Format Cells dialog box:

1. Format the cell range B2:B5 using the Accounting number format with two deci-
mal places, and the dollar sign.
2. Enter the following values in the cell range with the Accounting format:
• 1234.75 in cell B2
• 23500 in cell B3
• -1450.5 in cell B4
• 100.345 in cell B5
3. Apply the Text format to cell B7 and then enter 200.25 in this cell. Note how
Excel left-aligns the value and the appearance of the Number Options drop-down
button in later versions of Excel (the diamond with the exclamation point in the
upper-left corner of cell B7).
4. Create a formula in cell C7 that adds B5 and B7 together and then apply the
Accounting format to the cell. Note that despite the application of the Text
format, Excel still uses its value to return the correct sum (real text entries such
as Paris or Budget all carry a zero value in terms of arithmetic calculations).
5. Enter the date 02-15-05 in cell B9 (note how Excel automatically converts this
entry to 02/15/2005). Format this cell with the Date format that follows the pat-
tern March 14, 2001.
6. Format cell B9 with the General number format (note the appearance of the date
serial number 38398, indicating that this date represents the 38,398th day since
the dawn of the twentieth century). Click the Undo button on the Standard tool-
bar to restore the previous date formatting.
7. Enter the number 00401 in cell B11 and then format it with Special Zip Code
format (note what happens to the dropped zeros).
8. Enter the number 4155051122 in cell B13 and then format it with the Special
Phone Number format.