Convert numbers to turn negative in Numbers

The easiest way to accomplish that is by creating another column with the value multiplied by -1.

For example if your list is in column B starting at cell B2, then in cell C2 enter the function "=B2*-1". You can then copy and paste that down column C to the end of your list.

Hi Mac Jim,

That is how I would do it!

Mac Jim ID wrote:

The easiest way to accomplish that is by creating another column with the value multiplied by -1.

For example if your list is in column B starting at cell B2, then in cell C2 enter the function "=B2*-1". You can then copy and paste that down column C to the end of your list.

Regards,

Ian.

B,

You asked: "Can this be done more quickly ?"

I'm not particularly quick, 78 years old, bad eyes, but it didn't take me long to do this task. I started a stop watch, added a column in the data table, wrote an expression into the new table, copied that expression to the rest of the data range, copied the resulting calculation, pasted the formula results into the original data column making all the values negative, deleted the calculation column, and stopped the clock. The expression I typed was: "=−ABS(A2)"

Elapsed time, 56 seconds.

Jerry

Bomiboll wrote:

BTW, the expressions "-A2" is the simplest one to make negatives out of positives.

And "-A2" is simplest way to make positives out of negatives, unless you follow Jerry's suggestion of "=−ABS(A2)"

Good luck with your project.

Ian.

Deleted my original post and link to the shortcut. Just saw SGIII's reply above about the same thing.

If your original numbers are a mix of positive and negative, use absolute value || first to make them all positive then *-1 to make them all negative

The way I do this is simple and quick.

Select the cells and choose Perform Math on Specified Range

Answer the prompt:

Result:

Click this link in Safari to inspect (and if you like it) download the Shortcut.

When you open it in the built-in Shortcuts app you can pin it to the menu bar for quick access.

SG

For comparison, using my Shortcut in a leisurely fashion, converting a column of numbers to negative took me less than 13 seconds.

No extra columns, no formulas, no fuss, no extra columns.

Similar to Excel's Paste Special ... but quicker and easier.

Installing the Shortcut (a one-time thing) took about 10 seconds.

SG

Bomi,

Give that expression a try and let us know how it turns out.

Best of luck.

J