# Excel question: how to apply same arithmetic operation to multiple rows? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 12, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question-how-to-apply-same-arithmetic-operation-to-multiple-rows/624923 "2012-06-12T16:00:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question-how-to-apply-same-arithmetic-operation-to-multiple-rows/624923/1 "2012-06-12T16:00:56Z")
I have some numbers on Excel that I want to divide by 1000. What I do now is very time consuming. If the data is on col A then I put on col B the formula =A1/1000 and copy it downwards. Then I select column B and Copy, then go to Col A and Paste Special… and select Values. Is there an easier way to do it? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question-how-to-apply-same-arithmetic-operation-to-multiple-rows/624923/2 "2012-06-12T16:04:56Z")
Why are you doing the second stage? Why can’t you just use the results in column B. You could hide Column A if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![CCYMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/87869e/32.png) [@CCYMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCYMan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question-how-to-apply-same-arithmetic-operation-to-multiple-rows/624923/3 "2012-06-12T16:10:48Z")
Since you are already using a formula to do this, another formula would be equally time-consuming. But I have a feeling that what is taking you a long time is copying down the formula and then the pasting. Try this: put the formula in the first cell of column B, just like now. Now put your cursor into the lower right of the cell until the arrow turns into a plus sign. Now double-click, and it will copy your formula all the way down to the last number in column A. If there are any spaces in the data in column A then it will stop at the first space. To quickly copy into column A, go to the first cell in column B, then hit CTRL-SHIFT-down arrow. That will select the entire range of cells in column B. Then copy and paste like you do now. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question-how-to-apply-same-arithmetic-operation-to-multiple-rows/624923/4 "2012-06-12T16:12:01Z")
Type 1000 into any cell. Select that cell and hit “Copy” or Ctrl-C. Then highlight/select all of the cells that you want to divide by 1000. Now, see where the Paste button is on the top left? There’s a little downward pointing arrow there that you can click and bring up a drop down menu. On this menu, one of the items is “Paste Special” - click that button. A little box will come up with different radio buttons you can slect. Choose “divide” and then click on OK. Presto. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question-how-to-apply-same-arithmetic-operation-to-multiple-rows/624923/5 "2012-06-12T16:13:13Z")
You could also put 1,000 in a random cell and than copy that cell and paste special it to all of the desired cells using the / button on the paste special menu. ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question-how-to-apply-same-arithmetic-operation-to-multiple-rows/624923/6 "2012-06-12T16:27:05Z")
> [@Dog80](#): > > I have some numbers on Excel that I want to divide by 1000. > > What I do now is very time consuming. If the data is on col A then I put on col B the formula =A1/1000 and copy it downwards. Then I select column B and Copy, then go to Col A and Paste Special.. and select Values. > > Is there an easier way to do it? This sounds like you are dividing by 1000 then dividing that value by 1000 if i have this right Step 1 \_\_\_\_ A\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ B\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_B (shown value) 3,000,000\_\_\_=a1/1000\_\_\_\_\_3,000 Step 2 copy/paste special - value \_\_\_\_ A\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ B\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_B (shown value) **3,000** \_\_\_=a1/100\_\_\_\_\_\_\_3 Why not just \_\_\_\_ A\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ B\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_B (shown value)_**C\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_C (shown value) 3,000,000=a1/1000\_\_\_\_3,00**_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_=b1/1000\_\_\_\_\_\_3 That way you could just copy all the formulas down without having to do the ‘copy/paste special - value’ Sorry for the underlin but multiple spaces just show as a space ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question-how-to-apply-same-arithmetic-operation-to-multiple-rows/624923/7 "2012-06-12T16:49:08Z")
If you’re having trouble selecting: Copy b1 Click on a1 Hold ctrl and press down Press right Hold ctrl shift and press up Ctrl v ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question-how-to-apply-same-arithmetic-operation-to-multiple-rows/624923/8 "2012-06-12T17:39:36Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Type 1000 into any cell. Select that cell and hit “Copy” or Ctrl-C. > > Then highlight/select all of the cells that you want to divide by 1000. Now, see where the Paste button is on the top left? There’s a little downward pointing arrow there that you can click and bring up a drop down menu. On this menu, one of the items is “Paste Special” - click that button. A little box will come up with different radio buttons you can slect. Choose “divide” and then click on OK. > > Presto. Cool. I didn’t know about this one. This eliminates a couple of steps. ---
**Author:** ![AZCowboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/97f17d/32.png) [@AZCowboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AZCowboy)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question-how-to-apply-same-arithmetic-operation-to-multiple-rows/624923/9 "2012-06-13T19:33:17Z")
If your need to divide by 1,000 is just for display or printing purposes, an even easier way is to highlight the numbers in column A, right click, select “Format Cells”, select Custom, and put “0,” (without the quotes) in the Types box. This doesn’t change the actual value in the cell, but it will change how it is displayed and printed. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question-how-to-apply-same-arithmetic-operation-to-multiple-rows/624923/10 "2012-06-14T14:16:44Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Type 1000 into any cell. Select that cell and hit “Copy” or Ctrl-C. > > Then highlight/select all of the cells that you want to divide by 1000. Now, see where the Paste button is on the top left? There’s a little downward pointing arrow there that you can click and bring up a drop down menu. On this menu, one of the items is “Paste Special” - click that button. A little box will come up with different radio buttons you can slect. Choose “divide” and then click on OK. > > Presto. You know, I complain all the time (well, when it occurs to me) about people who look at their screen but don’t bother to _read_ all the options. Unlike, of course, myself. 😃 … well… :o Thanks for the tip! 🙂