INT function
The INT function in Excel is used to round a number down to the nearest integer that is less than or equal to the original number. It essentially removes the decimal part of a number.
Syntax
=INT(number)
Parameters
number: The number you want to round down. It can be a positive or negative number.
Return Value
The function returns the integer value of the number, rounding down to the nearest whole number.
Examples
Example 1: Round Down Positive Number
To round down 3.75 to the nearest integer:
=INT(3.75)
Result: 3
Explanation: Since the decimal part of the number is 0.75, the function rounds the number down to 3.
Example 2: Round Down Negative Number
To round down -3.75 to the nearest integer:
=INT(-3.75)
Result: -4
Explanation: The INT function always rounds down (towards negative infinity). In this case, the nearest integer less than or equal to -3.75 is -4.
Example 3: Round Down Whole Number
To round 5 to the nearest integer:
=INT(5)
Result: 5
Explanation: Since 5 is already an integer, the result remains the same.
Example 4: Use INT to Round a Negative Decimal
To round -2.1 to the nearest integer:
=INT(-2.1)
Result: -3
Explanation: The function rounds down towards the more negative value, so it rounds -2.1 down to -3.
Key Points
- The INT function always rounds down towards the next lower integer (even for negative numbers).
- For positive numbers, it effectively truncates the decimal portion, removing any digits after the decimal point.
- For negative numbers, it rounds away from zero, moving to the next lower integer.
Related Functions
- TRUNC: Similar to INT, but TRUNC allows you to specify how many digits to keep after the decimal point.
- ROUND: Rounds a number to a specified number of digits.
- CEILING: Rounds a number up to the nearest multiple of a specified value.
- FLOOR: Rounds a number down to the nearest multiple of a specified value.
The INT function is useful for situations where you need to discard the fractional part of a number and round down to the nearest integer.