Use the percentage format to display numeric values followed by the percent (%) symbol.

If the value is used in a formula, its decimal number version is used. For example, a value that displays as 3.00% is used as 0.03 in a formula.

If you type 3% in a cell formatted using the automatic format and then apply the percentage format to the cell, the value displayed is 3%. However, if you type 3 in a cell formatted using the automatic format and then apply the percentage format to the cell, the value displayed is 300%.

To apply a percentage format:
  1. Select the cell or cells.

  2. Click Inspector in the toolbar, and then click the Table button.

  3. In the Table inspector, click Format.

  4. Choose Percentage from the Cell Format pop-up menu.

  5. To specify how many decimal places to display, use the Decimals field.

    If a value contains more decimal places than you specify, the decimal value displayed is rounded, not truncated. For example, if a cell is formatted to display two decimal places, the value 3.456 is displayed as 3.46, not 3.45.

  6. To specify how to display negative values, choose an entry from the pop-up menu adjacent to the Decimals field.

  7. To specify whether to use a thousands separator, select or deselect Thousands Separator.

If a cell you’re formatting already contains a value, the value is assumed to be a decimal value, and it’s converted into a percentage. For example, 3 becomes 300%.

For detailed information about how to use the hundreds of iWork functions, choose Help > Formulas and Functions Help, or go to Formulas and Functions Help on the web.

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