What to Know About Formulas in Google Sheets
To divide two numbers in Google Sheets, you need to create a formula. Here are some important points to remember about Sheets formulas:
Formulas always begin with an equal sign ( = ). The equal sign always goes in the cell where you want the answer to go. The division operator is the forward-slash ( / ). Complete the formula by pressing the Enter key on the keyboard.
How to Divide in Google Sheets
Here’s how to use the divide function in Google Sheets: There are two ways to enter data when creating a formula in Google Sheets. You can enter numbers directly, for example, =DIVIDE(20,10). However, it’s better to enter the data into worksheet cells and use the addresses or references of those cells in the formula, for example, =DIVIDE(A1,B1). Using cell references rather than the actual data makes it easier to edit information later if needed. The results of the formula update automatically.
#DIV/O! Formula Errors
Sometimes you may get an error message if the formula is entered incorrectly. The most common error associated with division operations is #DIV/O!. This displays when the divisor is equal to zero, which is not allowed in ordinary arithmetic. The most likely reason for this error is an incorrect cell reference was entered into the formula. It could also be that the formula was copied to another location using the fill handle, which changed the cell references and resulted in the error.
How to Calculate Percentages With Division Formulas
When the results of a division operation are less than one, Google Sheets represents it as a decimal by default, as shown in row three of the below example, where:
The dividend is set to 7.The divisor is set to 21.The quotient is equal to 0.3333333333.
You can change that result to a percentage by changing the formatting in the cell. To do that, highlight the cell and select Format > Number > Percent. The 0.3333333333 changes to 33.33%.
