How TRUNC Function work in Google Sheets or Excel
The TRUNC
function in Google Sheets and Excel truncates a number by removing less significant digits or the fractional part, without rounding. It allows you to control precision by specifying the number of decimal places to retain.
- Removes decimals or limits to a specified precision.
- Keeps the integer part intact, even for negative numbers.
- Ideal for financial, statistical, or data-cleaning tasks.
Syntax: TRUNC(value, [places])
=TRUNC ( 333.144879 )
or
=TRUNC ( A2 )
Result: 333
=TRUNC ( 333.144879, 2 )
Result: 333.14
How MROUND function work in Google Sheets or Excel
Rounds one number to the nearest integer multiple of another or Rounds a number to the nearest multiple of a specified factor.
Syntax: MROUND(value, factor)
=MROUND( 333.144879, 0 )
or
=MROUND ( A2, 0 )
Result: 0
or =MROUND( 333.144879, 1 )
=MROUND( A2, 1 )
Result: 333
or =MROUND( 333.544879, 1 )
=MROUND( A13, 1 )
Result: 334
The key differences between TRUNC and MROUND in Google Sheets or Excel:
TRUNC | MROUND |
Syntax: TRUNC(value, [places]) value : The value to truncate.[places] (optional) : The number of decimal places to keep. | Syntax: MROUND(value, factor) value : The value to round.factor : The multiple to which the number will be rounded. |
Removes the decimal part of a number without rounding. | Rounds a number to the nearest multiple of a specified value. |
Cuts off all decimal places beyond the specified . =TRUNC(555.544879) → 555 | Rounds decimals up or down based on the proximity to the nearest multiple.=MROUND( → 555.5 |
Always truncates toward zero, regardless of the sign.=TRUNC(-555.544879) → -555 | Rounds negative numbers to the nearest multiple (away from zero for ties).=MROUND(- → -555.5Parameters of MROUND must have same signs (both positive or both negative), otherwise error. |
Allows precision via the [places] argument. | Rounds to the specified multiple, not a specific decimal place.=MROUND( → 555.6 |
Takes two arguments: value and optional [places] .[places] specifies how many decimals to retain. | Takes two arguments: number and multiple. multiple specifies the rounding interval. |
Useful for extracting the integer part of a number or controlling decimal precision. Truncate dates or prices without rounding. | Useful for financial, manufacturing, or statistical scenarios requiring multiples. Round up to the nearest dollar, dozen, or unit. |
How to use the INT function in Google Sheets or Excel
The INT
function in Google Sheets or Excel is used to round a number down to the nearest integer. It works by truncating the decimal portion of the number and returning only the integer part, even for negative numbers.
Rounds a number down to the nearest integer that is less than or equal to it.
Syntax: INT(value)
value
: The value you want to round down to the nearest integer. It can be a constant, a cell reference, or a formula.
=INT ( A2 )
or
=INT ( 555.144879 )
Result: 555
INT
Function Result Rounds Down Always:
- For positive numbers, it simply removes the fractional part.
=INT(555.144879)
→ 555 (rounds down to the nearest lower integer) - For negative numbers, it moves the number “down” towards more negative values.
=INT(-555.144879)
→ -556 (moves down to the more negative value) - If the input is already an integer, the result is the same as the input.
=INT(555)
→ 555 (result is the same as input) - You can use
INT
on formulas or calculations.=INT(555.144879/3)
→ 185(since 555.144879 ÷ 3 = 185.048293, andINT
truncates to 185)
“Wrong number of arguments to INT
. Expected 1 argument but got 2 arguments” – this error occurs because the INT
function accepts only one argument, which is the number to be rounded down to the nearest integer.
Ensure you are providing a single numeric input to the INT
function to avoid this error.
Practically Uses INT function:
- To extract only the integer portion of a number, ignoring the decimals or decimals values.
- If you want numbers without decimals for presentation or further calculations.
- For logical check data, combine with comparison functions to check if a number is already an integer. e.g.
=A2=INT(A2)
→ ReturnsTRUE
ifA2
is a whole number otherwise false. - Useful in scenarios where you need integer-based calculations like indexing or grouping.
Comparison to Similar Functions:
Syntax: ROUND(value, [places])
ROUND :
Rounds to the nearest , up or down, based on the first decimal digit, if first decimal digit is 5 or greater than rounds up otherwise down.=Round ( A2 )
or
→ 555
=ROUND(555.144879)=ROUND(555.544879)
→ 556
TRUNC
: Simply removes the decimal part of a number, without rounding.
For negative numbers, it does not move toward more negative values; it just chops off the fractional part.
Syntax: TRUNC(value, [places])
=TRUNC(-555.144879)
→ -555
INT :
Always rounds down (towards negative infinity), so for negative numbers, it moves to the next lower integer.
Syntax: INT(value)
=INT(-555.144879)
→ -556
=TRUNC(-555.144879)
→ -555 → ( vs. INT(-555.144879)
→ -556)
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YOU MUST KNOW?
- ROUND, ROUNDUP AND ROUNDDOWN Function in GOOGLE SHEETS OR EXCEL
- Auto Fill Serial Numbers, Using Function in Google Sheets
- SEQUENCE Function, Create Custom Number Charts or Tables in Google Sheets
For any questions or assistance regarding the TRUNC
, MROUND
and INT
function in Google Sheets, feel free to reach out in the comments. The CountLen team is dedicated to providing prompt and effective solutions, ensuring that all your queries are addressed swiftly. If you come across any inaccuracies or misleading information, don’t hesitate to share your feedback in the comments. We’re here to help you make the most of your data!