Question

Name the error which occurs when the column is not wide enough or a negative date or time is used. How can it be corrected if:
(i) Error is due to the width of the column, and
(ii) Date or time is negative?

Hint:

\#\#\#\#\# means the value exists but is not visible. Either expand the column or correct the formula for date/time logic.

Answer 1

The error that appears in Excel when a column is too narrow or contains an invalid (like negative) date/time is:
\[ \boxed{\#\#\#\#\#\#} \] Explanation:
(i) When the error is due to column width:
The cell displays \#\#\#\#\# because there isn’t enough space to show the full value. This commonly happens with formatted numbers or dates.
How to fix: Increase the column width manually or auto-adjust it by double-clicking the right edge of the column header.
(ii) When the error is due to a negative date/time:
Excel cannot handle negative date/time values because its date system starts from 1 Jan 1900. If a formula calculates a date before this, it results in \#\#\#\#\#.
How to fix: Check the formula and ensure that the result is not negative. Use absolute values or correct logic as needed.