← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

Shortening a postcode to a region with LEFT

Keeps only the first 2 characters of the postcode in cell C2, so an exact location becomes a wider region. This helps protect privacy.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Digital Footprints and Data Minimisation — Module 48

Understanding Shortening a postcode to a region with LEFT in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

What it does: LEFT with 2 keeps the first two digits, which hides the exact suburb but still shows the wider area. When the formula is copied down, C2 becomes C3, so each row shortens its own postcode. LEFT takes characters from the left (the start) of the text. The first 2 characters of 3052 are 30. RIGHT would give 52. Keeping fewer digits makes the location less precise. This is data minimisation, and it protects privacy. Postcodes are labels, not amounts. Storing them as text keeps leading zeros, so LEFT works on the real code. If the full postcodes stay in the sheet, the exact location is still there. Copy the results as values, then remove the original column.

Common mistakes: When the formula is copied down, each row must point to its own postcode. Row 3 should use C3, so it should be =LEFT(C3,2). Using C2 gives every row the same region. LEFT(C2,2) keeps only the first 2 characters. For 3052 it shows 30, not 305.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 752–770) and word search (Modules 696–770).

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Learning
Duo
Cell C2 holds the postcode 3052. What does =LEFT(C2,2) return?
5230
Matches
=LEFT(C2)
↓
Without a number, LEFT keeps only 1 character. Add the number of characters to keep, such as =LEFT(C2,2).
Applying
Meanings
Term
=LEFT(C2,2)
Meaning
Keeps only the first 2 characters of the postcode in cell C2, so an exact location becomes a wider region. This helps protect privacy.
Practice
=LEFT(C2,2)&"xx"
Testing
Gaps
=(C2,2)
Check Answer
Spots
3D2: =LEFT(C2,2)
4D3: =LEFT(C2,2)

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Quick Questions

1. Cell C2 holds the postcode 3052. What does =LEFT(C2,2) return?
A. 30 ✓
B. 52
LEFT takes characters from the left (the start) of the text. The first 2 characters of 3052 are 30. RIGHT would give 52.
2. Why might a school survey shorten postcodes with =LEFT(C2,2)?
A. A shorter code makes the exact street address easier to see
B. A shorter code shows a wider region, so it is harder to find where someone lives ✓
Keeping fewer digits makes the location less precise. This is data minimisation, and it protects privacy.
3. Which formula keeps only the first 2 characters of the postcode in C2?
A. =LEFT(C2,2) ✓
B. =LEFT(2,C2)
The syntax is LEFT(text, number_of_characters). The cell comes first, then how many characters to keep.
4. Postcodes like 0870 start with a zero. Why should they be stored as text?
A. Text makes the postcode longer so it is more precise
B. A number would drop the leading zero and show 870 ✓
Postcodes are labels, not amounts. Storing them as text keeps leading zeros, so LEFT works on the real code.
5. You wrote =LEFT(C2,2) in D2. How do you shorten the other postcodes in the column?
A. Copy the formula down so it becomes =LEFT(C3,2), =LEFT(C4,2) and so on ✓
B. Retype 30 by hand in every cell below
Copying the formula down changes the cell reference each row. It is faster and avoids typing mistakes.

Match the Pairs

=LEFT(C2,2) → Keeps only the first 2 characters of the postcode in C2, giving a wider region
=LEFT(C2,1) → Keeps only the first character of the postcode in C2, giving an even wider region
Shorten the postcode in C2 to its first 2 digits so a precise location becomes a region → =LEFT(C2,2)
Copy the shortening formula down to the next student's postcode in row 3 by changing the cell reference → =LEFT(C3,2)
=LEFT(C2) → Without a number, LEFT keeps only 1 character. Add the number of characters to keep, such as =LEFT(C2,2).
=RIGHT(C2,2) → RIGHT keeps the last 2 characters, which is not a region. Use LEFT to keep the first 2 digits.

Key Term

=LEFT(C2,2)
Keeps only the first 2 characters of the postcode in cell C2, so an exact location becomes a wider region. This helps protect privacy.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =LEFT(C2,2)
Hint: Type the function name that keeps characters from the start of a text value.
2. =LEFT(C2,2)
Hint: Type the cell reference of the first postcode in the column.
3. =LEFT(C2,2)
Hint: Type how many starting characters to keep so the postcode becomes a wider region.
4. =LEFT(C3,2)
Hint: After copying the formula down one row, type the postcode cell reference it now uses.
5. =LEFT(C7,2)
Hint: Type the column letter where the postcodes are stored as text.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A C1: Postcode
B D1: Region
C D2: =LEFT(C2,2)
D D3: =LEFT(C2,2)
Line D — When the formula is copied down, each row must point to its own postcode. Row 3 should use C3, so it should be =LEFT(C3,2). Using C2 gives every row the same region.
Question 2
A Postcode is stored as text
B C2 holds 3052
C D2: =LEFT(C2,2)
D D2 shows 305
Line D — LEFT(C2,2) keeps only the first 2 characters. For 3052 it shows 30, not 305.
Question 3
A C1: Postcode
B D1: Region
C D2: =LEFT(2,C2)
Line C — The arguments are in the wrong order. LEFT needs the cell first, then the number of characters, so it should be =LEFT(C2,2).
Question 4
A Postcode in C2 is 0870
B Format column C as Text
C =LEFT(C2,2) gives 87
Line C — LEFT takes characters from the start of the text. For 0870 the first 2 characters are 08, not 87.
Question 5
A D2: =RIGHT(C2,2)
B C2 is 2000
C D2 shows 20
Line A — RIGHT keeps the last 2 characters, which would give 00. To keep the start of the postcode as a region, use =LEFT(C2,2).

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