How to Divide in Excel

In Excel, you can divide within a cell, cell by cell, columns of cells, range of cells by a constant number, and divide using QUOTIENT function.

Dividing using Divide symbol in a cell

The easiest method to divide numbers in excel is by using the divide operator. In MS Excel, the divide operator is a forward slash (/).

To divide numbers in a cell, simply, start a formula with the ‘=’ sign in a cell, then enter the dividend, followed by a forward slash, followed by the divisor.

=number/number

For example, to divide 23 by 4, you type this formula in a cell: =23/4

Dividing Cells in Excel

To divide two cells in Excel, enter the equals sign (=) in a cell, followed by two cell references with the division symbol in between. For example, to divide the cell value A1 by B1, type ‘=A1/B1’ in cell C1.

Dividing Columns of Cells in Excel

To divide two columns of numbers in Excel, you can use the same formula. After you, typed the formula in the first cell (C1 in our case), click on the small green square in the lower-right corner of cell C1 and drag it down to cell C5.

Now, the formula is copied from C1 to C5 of column C. And column A is divided by column B, and the answers were populated in column C.

For example, to divide the number in A1 by the number in B2, and then divide the result by the number in B1, use the formula in the following image.

Dividing a Range of Cells by a Constant Number in Excel

If you want to divide a range of cells in a column by a constant number, you can do that by fixing the reference to the cell that contains the constant number by adding the dollar ‘$’ symbol in front of the column and row in the cell reference. This way, you can lock that cell reference so it won’t change no matter where the formula is copied.

For example, we created an absolute cell reference by placing a $ symbol in front of the column letter and row number of cell A7 ($A$7). First, enter the formula in cell C1 to divide the value of cell A1 by the value of cell A7.

To divide a range of cells by a constant number, click on the small green square in the lower-right corner of cell C1 and drag it down to cell C5. Now, the formula is applied to C1:C5 and cell C7 is divided by a range of cells (A1:A5).

Divide a Column by the Constant Number with Paste Special

You can also divide a range of cells by the same number with Paste Special method. To do that, right-click on the cell A7 and copy (or press CTRL + c).

Next, select the cell range A1:A5 and then right-click, and click ‘Paste Special’.

Select ‘Divide’ under ‘Operations’ and click the ‘OK’ button.

Now, cell A7 is divided by the column of numbers (A1:A5). But the original cell values of A1:A5 will be replaced with the results.

Dividing in Excel using QUOTIENT Function

Another way to divide in Excel is by using the QUOTIENT function. However, dividing numbers of cells using the QUOTIENT returns only the integer number of a division. This function discards the remainder of a division.

The Syntax for QUOTIENT function:

=QUOTIENT(numerator, denominator)

When you divide two numbers evenly without remainder, the QUOTIENT function returns the same output as the division operator.

For example, both =50/5 and =QUOTIENT(50, 5) yields 10.

But, when you divide two numbers with a remainder, the divide symbol produces a decimal number while the QUOTIENT returns only the integer part of the number.

For example, =A1/B1 returns 5.75 and =QUOTIENT(A1,B1) returns 5.

If you only want the remainder of a division, not an integer, then use the Excel MOD function.

For example, =MOD(A1,B1) or =MOD(23/4) returns 3.

#DIV/O! Error

#DIV/O! error value is one of the most common errors associated with division operations in Excel. This error will be displayed when the denominator is 0 or the cell reference is incorrect.