Syntax. CEILING.PRECISE(number,significance)
Definition. This function rounds a number to the next integer or multiple of significance. Regardless of the sign, the value is rounded.
Arguments
number (required) The value you want to round.
significance (optional) The multiple to which you want to round. The default value for significance is 1.
Background. The CEILING.PRECISE() function allows you to round numbers up to a specified interval limit. Of course, you can get this result with other rounding functions, but CEILING.PRECISE is the direct way.
The CEILING.PRECISE() function uses the absolute value of the multiple and returns the upper limit regardless of the sign of number and significance. The following example shows the difference between CEILING() and CEILING.PRECISE():
CEILING(-3.2,-1) = -4 CEILING.PRECISE(-3.2,-1) = -3
The CEILING.PRECISE() function uses the absolute value to round a number with a negative sign (–3.2) up, and the CEILING() function rounds a number with a negative sign down. The difference between CEILING.PRECISE() and CEILING() is that CEILING.PRECISE() rounds a number with a negative sign up.
Example. A thermometer in a freezer is calibrated to 2 degrees Celsius. You want to round the measured temperature of –17 degrees to a multiple of 2 degrees. The CEILING.PRECISE(–17,–2) function returns –16 degrees.