Compute the first digit of an integer in Excel

Question

I have a spreadsheet with column B having integers. I want to get the first digit of each entry in column B in the corresponding row of column C.

datatoo · Answer 1 · 2012-07-13 14:33:51Z

up vote 3 down vote

If you want them as numbers for calculation to be done

=VALUE(LEFT(B1,1))

drag that down in Column C else

=LEFT(B1,1)

answered Jul 13 '12 at 14:33

datatoo
1,999615

Excellll · Answer 2 · 2012-07-14 04:42:17Z

up vote 1 down vote

To build on @datatoo's answer, if your list includes negative values, you'll have to add a condition to look past any negative signs:

=VALUE(IF(B1<0,MID(B1,2,1),LEFT(B1,1)))

answered Jul 14 '12 at 4:42

Excellll
2,998621

1

you COULD just take the absolute value of the cell first. abs() – lornix Jul 14 '12 at 20:10

@lornix Or that.... :P – Excellll Jul 15 '12 at 4:59

2 Answers