How to Subtract a Percentage in Excel

If you’re new to Microsoft Excel, you may find yourself struggling to perform simple arithmetic calculations. One common calculation is subtracting a percentage from a given value. Excel provides a simple and efficient way to perform this calculation using a few built-in formulas. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps to subtract a percentage in Excel.

Step 1: Enter the Values

The first step in subtracting a percentage in Excel is entering all the values into the spreadsheet. For example, if you want to subtract 20% from a value of 100, you need to enter these values into cells A1 and B1 respectively.

Note: Ensure to format the cell as a percentage by selecting it and using the keyboard shortcut CTRL + SHIFT + % or clicking on the percentage format icon in the Home tab of the ribbon.

Step 2: Perform the Calculation

Once the values are entered, it’s time to perform the calculation. The fastest way to do this is by using the following formula in cell C1:

=A1*(1-B1)

This formula multiplies the original value in cell A1 by the difference between 1 and the percentage in B1.

Step 3: Format the Result

The final step is to format the result to your preferred format. You can either use a number format to display the result as a whole number or use a currency format to display the result in a currency format. To format the cell, select it and choose your preferred format from the dropdown in the Home tab of the ribbon or use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + SHIFT + $.

Tips for Subtracting a Percentage in Excel

Use Relative References

When entering the formula for subtracting a percentage, use relative references instead of absolute references. This means that when you copy the formula to other cells, the formula will adjust and reference the correct cells. To use relative referencing, avoid using the $ symbol when referencing cells in your formula.

Try Using the MINUS Function

You can also use the MINUS function to subtract a percentage from a value in Excel. The MINUS function works in the same way as the standard subtraction operator. To use this function, enter the following formula into your Excel spreadsheet:

=A1-MULTIPLY(A1,B1)

The MULTIPLY function calculates the percentage value before subtracting it from the original value in cell A1.

Check for Errors

Be sure to double-check your numbers and formulas to prevent making mistakes. Always check that you have entered the correct values and applied the necessary formatting to your cells before proceeding with the calculation.

Understand the Difference Between Two Numbers with Percentage

If you’re looking to understand the difference between two numbers with percentage, you can use Excel to easily calculate this through subtraction and then using a percentage format. Here are the steps to do it:

Step 1: Enter the Values

The first step is to enter the values you need to subtract the percentage from. For example, consider you have a sales sheet containing all the sales numbers of different products. You want to find out the difference in sales between two products.

Step 2: Calculate the Difference

To calculate the difference, subtract the two numbers. For example, if product A sold 500 units and product B sold 300 units, the difference is 200 units.

The formula for finding the difference in Excel would be:

= A1 - B1

Step 3: Calculate the Percentage

Once you have calculated the difference, you can easily find the percentage difference between the two numbers. To do this, divide the difference by the original or larger value and multiply by 100.

The formula for finding the percentage difference in Excel would be:

=ABS((A1-B1)/MAX(A1,B1))*100

This formula uses the ABS function to ensure you get positive results, even if the smaller number is subtracted from the larger number.

Subtract Multiple Percentages in Excel

It’s also possible to subtract multiple percentages from a single number in Excel.

Step 1: Enter the value to which percentages will be subtracted

Enter the value from which you want to subtract multiple percentages in Excel, like 1000 in cell A1.

Step 2: Enter the percentage values

In separate cells, enter the percentages that you want to subtract from A1, like 10% in cell B1 and 20% in cell C1.

Step 3: Calculate the Final Value

To calculate the final value after subtracting multiple percentages, use the following formula:

=A1*(1-B1)*(1-C1)

This example multiplies the original value in cell A1 by (1 – B1) and then multiplies it by (1 – C1) to get the final result.

Subtracting a percentage may seem daunting for those unfamiliar with Excel or basic math formulas. Yet, with Excel’s built-in formulas and guides, you can quickly and easily perform the necessary calculations. By following the steps outlined in this post, you’ll be a master at subtracting percentages in no time.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions to help you better understand calculations involving percentages in Excel.

How do I multiply a value by a percentage?

To multiply a value by a percentage in Excel, you can use the following formula: =A1*20%. This will multiply the value in cell A1 by 20%. Don’t forget to format the cell as a percentage using the shortcut CTRL + SHIFT + %.

How do I add a percentage to a value in Excel?

To add a percentage to a value in Excel, you can use the following formula: =A1*(1+20%). This will add 20% to the value in cell A1. Don’t forget to format the cell as a percentage using the shortcut CTRL + SHIFT + %.

How to divide a value by a percentage in Excel?

You can divide a value by a percentage in Excel by using the following formula: =A1/20%. This will divide the value in cell A1 by 20%. Don’t forget to format the cell as a percentage using the shortcut CTRL + SHIFT + %.

Can I subtract two percentages in Excel?

No, you cannot directly subtract two percentages in Excel. To subtract a percentage, you need to convert it to a decimal value and then perform the subtraction. For example, if you want to subtract 20% from 50%, you would convert both percentages to decimal values (0.2 and 0.5, respectively) then subtract 0.2 from 0.5.

What are some common mistakes when subtracting percentages in Excel?

Common mistakes when subtracting percentages in Excel include forgetting to format cells as percentages, not using relative cell references in formulas, and not double-checking formulas for syntax errors.