Clean imported time offsets with INT and TRUNC
BeginnerImported scheduling data often includes time offsets with decimal values, even when a team only wants whole minutes for cleanup and review. In this exercise, you'll clean a small batch of imported offsets and see why INT and TRUNC can produce different results when a value is negative.
INT rounds a number down to the next lower whole number. Its syntax is:
=INT(number)
TRUNC removes the decimal part of a number. Its syntax is:
=TRUNC(number, [num_digits])
For positive numbers, the results match. For negative numbers, they can differ. For example, INT turns -3.4 into -4, while TRUNC turns -3.4 into -3.
Your task
- Review the imported offset values in B2:B12.
- In column C, enter a formula that uses INT on the value from the same row.
- In column D, enter a formula that uses TRUNC on the value from the same row.
- Fill both columns through row 12.
- Compare the negative offsets to see where the two functions produce different results.
When you're done, columns C and D should show the cleaned whole-minute versions of every imported offset.
Need some help?
Hint 1
Both functions remove decimals, so start by choosing the function that belongs in each result column.
Hint 2
Check the negative values to tell the two functions apart. INT moves to the next lower whole number, while TRUNC only cuts off the decimal portion.
Hint 3
Use the imported offsets in B2:B12 as the source. Put the INT results in C2:C12 and the TRUNC results in D2:D12.
Clean imported time offsets with INT and TRUNC
BeginnerImported scheduling data often includes time offsets with decimal values, even when a team only wants whole minutes for cleanup and review. In this exercise, you'll clean a small batch of imported offsets and see why INT and TRUNC can produce different results when a value is negative.
INT rounds a number down to the next lower whole number. Its syntax is:
=INT(number)
TRUNC removes the decimal part of a number. Its syntax is:
=TRUNC(number, [num_digits])
For positive numbers, the results match. For negative numbers, they can differ. For example, INT turns -3.4 into -4, while TRUNC turns -3.4 into -3.
Your task
- Review the imported offset values in B2:B12.
- In column C, enter a formula that uses INT on the value from the same row.
- In column D, enter a formula that uses TRUNC on the value from the same row.
- Fill both columns through row 12.
- Compare the negative offsets to see where the two functions produce different results.
When you're done, columns C and D should show the cleaned whole-minute versions of every imported offset.
Need some help?
Hint 1
Both functions remove decimals, so start by choosing the function that belongs in each result column.
Hint 2
Check the negative values to tell the two functions apart. INT moves to the next lower whole number, while TRUNC only cuts off the decimal portion.
Hint 3
Use the imported offsets in B2:B12 as the source. Put the INT results in C2:C12 and the TRUNC results in D2:D12.