← Years 5–6 Data & Information

Formatting numbers and cells

Changing how a cell looks, such as currency, decimal places, bold or column width, without changing the value stored inside it. For example, 5 can show as $5.00.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 29, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 79, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Analysing and visualising data — Module 8, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 42, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 22

Understanding Formatting numbers and cells in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: Bold is a formatting change. The text in A1 is still Name, it just looks heavier so it stands out as a heading. Column width is a formatting choice. A wider column shows the whole value instead of ##### but the stored value stays the same. Decimal places only change what you see on the screen. The full value 3.14159 is still stored and used in formulas. Currency format changes how prices look. It does not add anything up. For that you need a formula like SUM. Bold headings make a table easier to read without changing any of the data.

Common mistakes: The cell shows $5.00, so the stored value must be 5. Currency format only changes how it looks. It would show $50.00 if the value were 50. The line should be B2 = 5. Changing decimal places only changes what is shown. The stored value stays 3.14159. The line should be A1 value stays 3.14159.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 21–30) and word search (Modules 21–56).

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Learning
Duo
A cell holds 5. You apply currency format and it shows $5.00. What is stored in the cell?
The text $5.00Still the number 5
Matches
Cell shows $5.00 so the cell now stores $5.00 as text
↓
Currency format only changes how the value looks. The cell still stores the number 5, so it can still be used in formulas.
Applying
Meanings
Term
cell formatting
Meaning
Changing how a cell looks, such as currency, decimal places, bold or column width, without changing the value stored inside it. For example, 5 can show as $5.00.
Practice
A1: Price (bold heading)
Testing
Gaps
Format A1 as
Check Answer
Spots
1B2 = 50
2Format B2 as currency

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Quick Questions

1. A cell holds 5. You apply currency format and it shows $5.00. What is stored in the cell?
A. The text $5.00
B. Still the number 5 ✓
Formatting only changes how the value looks. The value stored inside the cell is still 5.
2. Which one is an example of cell formatting?
A. Making a heading row bold ✓
B. Changing 12 into 20
Bold changes the look of the text. Changing 12 into 20 changes the value, so it is not formatting.
3. A cell shows 3.14159. You set it to 2 decimal places and it shows 3.14. What does the cell still hold?
A. 3.14159 ✓
B. 3.14
Decimal places only change what you see on the screen. The full value 3.14159 is still stored and used in formulas.
4. Why would you use currency format on a column of prices?
A. So the prices get added up automatically
B. So the numbers show a $ sign and cents ✓
Currency format changes how prices look. It does not add anything up. For that you need a formula like SUM.
5. The words in a column are cut off because they are too wide. What is the best fix?
A. Make the column wider ✓
B. Delete the words and retype them
Changing column width fixes how much you can see. The data inside the cells stays the same.

Match the Pairs

$5.00 → The currency format showing the value 5 as money, with a dollar sign and two decimal places
3.14159 shown as 3.14 → Decimal places set to 2, so the cell shows fewer digits but still stores the full value
Bold makes a heading stand out without changing the words or numbers in the cell → Bold on cell A1: Name
Making a column wider so a long value fits and shows fully, without changing the value → Column B width: 10 to 25
Cell shows $5.00 so the cell now stores $5.00 as text → Currency format only changes how the value looks. The cell still stores the number 5, so it can still be used in formulas.
Rounded 2.678 to 2.7 so the real value is now 2.7 → Showing fewer decimal places only changes the display. The cell still stores 2.678 and formulas use that full value.

Key Term

cell formatting
Changing how a cell looks, such as currency, decimal places, bold or column width, without changing the value stored inside it. For example, 5 can show as $5.00.

Fill in the Blanks

1. A1 = 5 Format A1 as currency A1 shows $5.00
Hint: Type the name of the format that adds a dollar sign and cents.
2. A2 = 3.14159 Decimal places = 2 A2 shows 3.14
Hint: Type the number of decimal places that matches the displayed value.
3. Headings in A1:C1 Format A1:C1 as bold Headings now look thick and dark
Hint: Type the text format that makes heading text stand out.
4. B1 shows ##### Column B is too narrow Increase column width of B
Hint: Type the column property you change so the whole value can be seen.
5. A1 = 5 Format A1 as currency Value in A1 is still 5
Hint: Type the value stored in the cell, which formatting does not change.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A B2 = 50
B Format B2 as currency
C B2 shows $5.00
D B2 value stays 5
Line A — The cell shows $5.00, so the stored value must be 5. Currency format only changes how it looks. It would show $50.00 if the value were 50. The line should be B2 = 5.
Question 2
A A1 = 3.14159
B Set A1 to 2 decimal places
C A1 shows 3.14
D A1 value becomes 3.14
Line D — Changing decimal places only changes what is shown. The stored value stays 3.14159. The line should be A1 value stays 3.14159.
Question 3
A Select the last data row
B Click the Bold button
C Headings now look heavier
D The heading text is unchanged
Line A — The headings are in row 1, so row 1 must be selected before clicking Bold. Selecting the last data row would bold the wrong cells. The line should be Select the heading row 1.
Question 4
A Title in A1 is cut off
B Column A is too narrow
C Make the column narrower
D Now the full title shows
Line C — A column that is too narrow cuts off text. Making it narrower makes the problem worse. The column needs to be wider. The line should be Make the column wider.
Question 5
A C2 = 12.5
B Format C2 as percentage
C C2 shows $12.50
D C2 value stays 12.5
Line B — Percentage format would show 1250%, not $12.50. A dollar sign comes from currency format. The line should be Format C2 as currency.

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