changing a column of positive numbers to negative

Hi!

I am a newbie to numbers, and am working in Numbers 09. I have tried the other techniques that have been posted but can't make them work. In slow, easy to understand instructions 🙂 could someone please tell me how to change a column of numbers (they are in column E) to negative numbers so that i can do my banking spreadsheets. There are 995 rows in the column....

Thanks in advance!

iwork-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Feb 25, 2013 10:12 AM

Top-ranking reply

Badunit

Level 7

30,714 points

Posted on Feb 25, 2013 10:24 AM

Assuming the numbers in column E are not created by a formula,

Add a new column to the right. It will be column F
In column F in the first row that has data, put the formula =-E
Select that cell.
Copy
Select the rest of the cells in column F where you want negative numbers
Paste. The column should be full of negative numbers now.
Select all the cells in column F that have your negative numbers.
Copy
Select the first cell in column E that has your positive numbers
Paste Values (found in the Edit menu). This is not the same as the normal "Paste" command
Delete the column you added in the first step.

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33 replies

makfai

Level 1

19 points

Apr 3, 2014 4:27 AM in response to Barry

My answer is still the same whether it is w/could.

Select from menu w/could be simpler.

Yellowbox

Level 7

21,945 points

Apr 3, 2014 4:35 AM in response to makfai

Yawn. Signing off from this discussion. Ian

coremelt

Level 1

9 points

Jun 8, 2017 2:26 AM in response to SGIII

Super helpful ! Thank you

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changing a column of positive numbers to negative