The UMINUS function in Google Sheets is a powerful operator function that allows you to reverse the sign of a number. In this article, we will explore the various use cases of the UMINUS function and its equivalents.
Understanding the UMINUS Function
The UMINUS function in Google Sheets is commonly used in combination with financial functions. It provides a convenient way to reverse the sign of a number, which is particularly useful in financial calculations.
Typically, you can achieve the same result as the UMINUS function by multiplying a number by -1. For example, if you have a negative number and you want to make it positive, simply multiply it by -1.
Let’s see an example to illustrate this concept. In the given formula =A1*-1, we multiply the value in cell A1 by -1 to reverse its sign. The result is then displayed in cell B1.
Syntax and Argument of UMINUS Function
The syntax of the UMINUS function in Google Sheets is as follows:
UMINUS(value)Here, value refers to the specific number whose sign you want to reverse.
Examples of UMINUS Function
Let’s take a look at some examples of the UMINUS function to further understand its usage.
Suppose we have a negative number, -54, and we want to reverse its sign. The formula =uminus(-54) will return the value 54.
On the other hand, if we have a positive number, 54, and we want to reverse its sign, the formula =uminus(54) will return the value -54.
In real-life scenarios, we often use the UMINUS function with financial functions. For instance, let’s consider the PMT financial function, which calculates the periodic payment for a loan.
Interest Rate (Annual) 4.5%
Periods (Term in Months) 60
Loan Amount $25,000.00
Monthly Payment Amt. -$466.08
Formula Used in Cell B4 =pmt(B1/12,B2,B3)The output of the PMT formula in cell B4 is a negative number since it represents a cash outflow. However, if we want to display this output as a positive number, we can use the UMINUS function in combination with the PMT function, like this: =uminus(pmt(B1/12,B2,B3)).
It is worth mentioning that the UMINUS function is not available in Excel. Excel users can achieve the same result by using the formula =-pmt(B1/12,B2,B3).
UPLUS Function in Google Sheets
In addition to the UMINUS function, Google Sheets also provides the UPLUS function. However, the UPLUS function simply returns the input number without any alteration. It is primarily included in Google Sheets for compatibility with other spreadsheet applications.
The syntax of the UPLUS function is as follows:
UPLUS(value)Here are a few examples to demonstrate the usage of the UPLUS function:
=uplus(-5) // Result: -5
=uplus(5) // Result: 5To further explore Google Sheets functions, you can also check out the SIGN function and its real-life examples here.
In conclusion, the UMINUS function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool for reversing the sign of numbers, particularly useful in financial calculations. By understanding its syntax and equivalents, you can harness the full potential of this function in your spreadsheet tasks.
Now that you have learned all about the UMINUS function and its equivalents, you can start applying this knowledge to optimize your own Google Sheets tasks. For more insights and guides on Google Sheets functions, visit Crawlan.com.
