Article ID: 65903 - Last Review: November 16, 2006 - Revision: 3.1

Number of significant digits MS Excel retains

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SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel retains 15 significant digits. To display all 15 digits, you must use a number format (custom or built-in) other than General. The General number format displays up to 11 numeric characters, with the decimal point counting as a numeric character. Therefore, if the number contains a decimal point, Excel can display up to 10 significant digits, but if the number does not contain a decimal point, Excel can display up to 11 significant digits Adding more numbers to the left of the decimal point causes the number to appear in exponential notation.

APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Excel X for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 2004 for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 2002 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh
  • Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
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