Delta Symbol in Excel

What Is Delta Symbol In Excel?

The Delta Symbol in Excel is used to show the changes over time. The data variation is done quickly. The Delta Symbols denote the different operators in Maths and Science.

The Delta Symbol is present in the Symbols group of the Insert tab in Excel.

Key Takeaways
  • The Delta Symbol in Excel is inserted using six methods, including the “Insert” option, Char formula, shortcut key, etc.
  • The shortcut key to insert the Delta Symbol in Excel is ALT + 30.
  • The CHAR function returns the character of the given ASCII decimal code.
  • AutoCorrect is a feature used in Excel to correct wrong-spelled words. This feature changes abbreviations into full text and inserts special characters or symbols without using other sources.

6 Methods To Insert Delta Symbols In Excel

There are multiple ways to insert the Delta Symbol in Excel. Let us look at the below examples to learn how to insert Excel Delta Symbol.

Method #1 – Insert Delta From Insert Option

To insert Delta from Insert Option, we need to follow the below steps;

  • Step 1: Select the empty cell where we want to insert the Delta Symbol; in this case, it is cell A1.
  • Step 2: Go to the Insert tab.
  • Step 3: Select the Symbols drop-down arrow from the menu.
Delta Symbol in Excel - Method 1 - From Insert Option - Step 3
  • Step 4: Select the Symbol option from the list. It adds symbols that are not on the keyboard.
Method 1 - From Insert Option - Step 4
  • Step 5: A window called Symbol appears.
  • Step 6: Search for the Delta Symbol from the list.
  • Step 7: Select Δ Symbol and click the Insert button.
Delta Symbol in Excel - Method 1 - From Insert Option - Step 7
  • Step 8: Select δ Symbol and click the Insert button.
  • Step 9: The Δ Symbol for Upper case and δ Symbol for Lower case are inserted in the selected cells A1 & A2.
Delta Symbol in Excel - Method 1 - From Insert Option - Step 9

Method #2 – Insert Delta By Shortcut Key

We can use the below steps to insert Delta by Shortcut Keys from the keyboard.

  • Step 1: Select the empty cell where we want to insert the Delta Symbol; in this case, it is cell A1.
  • Step 2: The Δ Symbol for Upper case – Press
Delta Symbol in Excel - Method 2 - Using Shortcut Keys - Step 2
  • Step 3: The δ Symbol for Lower case – Press
Delta Symbol in Excel - Method 2 - Using Shortcut Keys - Step 3
  • Step 4: The Symbol – Press
Delta Symbol in Excel - Method 2 - Using Shortcut Keys - Step 4

Note: The numbers should be pressed from the Number keypad on the Keyboard.

Method #3 – Insert Delta By Changing The Font Name

The steps to insert Delta by changing the Font Name are

  • Step 1: Select the empty cell where we want to insert the Delta Symbol; in this case, it is cells A1 & A2.
Method 3 - Changing the Font Name - Step 1
  • Step 2: Enter D for Upper Case Delta Symbol.

Enter d for Lower Case Delta Symbol.

Delta Symbol in Excel - Method 3 - Changing the Font Name - Step 2
  • Step 3: Change the Font Name to Symbol in the Font group of the Home tab.

D will turn into Δ.

d will turn into δ.

Delta Symbol in Excel - Method 3 - Changing the Font Name - Step 3

Method #4 – Insert Delta By CHAR Formula

To insert Delta Symbol by using the CHAR formula in Excel, we need to use the below steps;

In the table,

  • Column A contains the Symbol.
  • Column B shows the Formula.
Method 4 - Insert by CHAR Formula
  • Step 1: Select the empty cell where we want to insert the Delta Symbol; in this case, it is cells A2, A3 & A4.
  • Step 3: Enter the value of ‘number’ as 114 in the cell A2

                                                               113 in the cell A3

                                                               112 in the cell A4

  • Step 4: The entered complete formula is =CHAR(114) in cell A2.

                                                                  =CHAR(113) in cell A3.

                                                                  =CHAR(112) in cell A4.

  • Step 5: Next, press the Enter key.

Clearly, we can see that cell A2 is displaying r; cell A3 is showing q and cell A4 is displaying p as results.

 Method 4 - Insert by CHAR Formula - Step 5
  • Step 6: To convert the result into Symbols, change the font name to Wingdings 3 in the Font group of the Home tab.
  • Step 7: Next, press the Enter key.

The results are obtained as shown in the image below.

Method 4 - Insert by CHAR Formula - Step 7

Method #5 – Insert Delta By Using AutoCorrect Feature

The following steps are used to insert Delta by Using Excel AutoCorrect Feature;

  • Step 1: Select the empty cell where we want to insert the Delta Symbol; in this case, it is cell A1.
  • Step 2: Select the Options from the drop-right list of the More… option from the File tab.
Excel Delta Symbol - Method 5 - Using AutoCorrect Feature - Step 2
  • Step 3: The window called Excel Options opens.
  • Step 4: Select the AutoCorrect Options… button under the Proofing option from the list.
Method 5 - Using AutoCorrect Feature - Step 4
  • Step 5: The window called AutoCorrect: English (United States) opens.
  • Step 6: Paste the Δ Delta symbol in the With: section.
Method 5 - Using AutoCorrect Feature - Step 5
  • Step 7: Enter the string ABCD in the Replace: section.
  • Step 8: Select the Add button and then click OK.
Method 5 - Using AutoCorrect Feature - Step 8a
Method 5 - Using AutoCorrect Feature - Step 8b
  • Step 9: Enter the ABCD string in cell A1 and press Enter key. The string will be replaced with the Δ Delta symbol.
Excel Delta Symbol - Method 5 - Using AutoCorrect Feature - Step 9

Method #6 – Custom Number Formatting With Delta Symbol

The succeeding example depicts the set of values, and we will Customize Number Formatting with Delta Symbol.

In the table, columns A, B and C shows Value 1, Value 2 and the difference.

Excel Delta Symbol - Method 6 - Custom Number Formatting

The steps to Customize Number Formatting with Delta Symbol are as follows:

  • Step 1: Select the cell where we will enter the formula and calculate the result. The selected cell, in this case, is cell C2.
  • Step 2:  Next, we will enter the Formula in cell C2.
  • Step 3: The entered complete formula is =A2-B2 in cell C2.
  • Step 4: Next, press the Enter key. The result in cell C2 is -18975.
  • Step 5: Press Enter and drag to cell C6.
 Method 6 - Custom Number Formatting - Step 5
  • Step 6: Select the difference column data and press CTRL + 1 to open the Format cells excel window.
  • Step 7: The Format Cells window opens. Select the Custom option from the category list.
  • Step 8: Select General Δ in the Type box. Click OK.
Method 6 - Custom Number Formatting - Step 8
  • Step 9: We get the Delta Symbol with numbers in the selected cell, as shown in the below image.
Method 6 - Custom Number Formatting - Step 9

The positive and the negative numbers are shown with an upward and downward delta symbol. We need to apply two delta symbols ▲for positive numbers and ▼ negative numbers.

  • Step 10: Select the Difference column data and press CTRL + 1 to open the Format cells window.
  • Step 11: The Format Cells window opens. Select the Custom option from the category list.
  • Step 12: Select General ▲; -General ▼ in the Type box. Click OK.
Method 6 - Custom Number Formatting - Step 12
  • Step 13: We get the Delta symbol with numbers in the selected cell, as shown in the below image.
Excel Delta Symbol - Method 6 - Custom Number Formatting - Step 13

We can apply colorful formatting for the difference. If the number is positive, it is shown in Green; if it is negative, it is shown in Red.

  • Step 14: Select the difference column data and press CTRL + 1 to open the Format cells window.
  • Step 15: The Format Cells window opens. Select the Custom option from the category list.
  • Step 16: Select [Green]▲#,###;[Red]▼-#,### in the Type box. Click OK.
Method 6 - Custom Number Formatting - Step 16
  • Step 17: We get the Delta Symbol in colours with numbers in the selected cell, as shown in the below image.
Excel Delta Symbol - Method 6 - Custom Number Formatting - Step 17

Important Things To Note

  • The Delta Symbol is performed in two ways: the first is a filled delta, and the second is an empty delta.
  • The CHAR function is used to insert both filled delta and empty delta symbols in Excel.
  • The Delta Symbol is used in the dashboard.
  • Auto-correction is used when the Delta Symbol is used continuously.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How to type Delta Symbol?

To type Delta Symbol from the keyboard, press;
Δ – ALT + 235 for upper case
δ – ALT + 916 for lower case

2. What does the Δ symbol mean?

The ∆ means change or difference, is reflected in the equation of a stone’s slope:  
(∆y / ∆x) = (y1 – y2) / (x1 – x2)

The δ is the discount parameter in the game theory used for repeated games.

3. Where is Delta Symbol in Excel?

One can activate the Delta Symbol in Excel using the following steps:
1) Choose the empty cell where we want to insert the Delta Symbol.
2) Go to the Insert tab and click it.
3) Select the Symbols drop-down arrow from the menu.
4) Select the Symbol option from the list.
5) A window called Symbol appears.
6) Search for the Delta Symbol from the list.
7) Select Δ Symbol and click the Insert button.
8) The Δ Symbol is inserted in the selected cell A1.

Delta Symbol in Excel

Download Template

This article must help understand the Delta Symbol in Excel formula and examples. You can download the template here to use it instantly.

This has been a guide to Delta Symbol in Excel. Here we discuss 6 methods to insert delta symbols along with examples and downloadable excel template. You can learn more from the following articles –

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