How to use the BITLSHIFT Function in Excel

IN this article, we will understand How to use the BITLSHIFT Function in Excel

Scenario:

This function was introduced in Excel 2013 and it returns a number shifted left by bits specified as numbers. For example, binary representation of 8 is 1000 and adding two 0 digits on the right of it will make it as 100000, which is number 32 in decimal.

The BITLSHIFT function in excel performs the Bitwise Left Shift operation on a decimal number and returns the decimal number after the operation is performed. Bitwise left shift operation is performed on a binary number. Let’s consider a decimal number 4 and a bit left shift to be 2. As we know 4 is represented as 100 in binary. So 2 zeros will be added to the right of the binary number by shifting left.

BITLSHIFT function

The BITLSHIFT function returns a Bitwise Left Shift of a decimal number upto shift_amount.

Syntax:

number1 : a positive integer number of base 10 (decimal number) to be shifted

shift_amount : an integer representing the amount of shift to occur on the number. This argument can be positive , zero or negative.

Here is the excel representation of the function

As you can the function returns 16 after the bitwise left shift of 2 on 4.

You can use the DEC2BIN & BIN2DEC function in excel to understand the conversion operation.

Now let’s get more understanding of the function via using them in some examples.

Here we have some values as number & shift_amount in Columns. We need to get the bitwise left shift operation on the given numbers using the BITLSHIFT function in excel

Use the formula :

A2 : number provided to the function as cell reference

B2 : number provided to the function as cell reference

The bitwise left shift operation on 1 ( 01 ) by adding one zero to the right of the number will be 2 ( 010 ).

Now copy the formula to other cells using the Ctrl + D shortcut key.

As you can see here the BITLSHIFT function returns the result of the input values.

Notes:

1. Numbers can be given as argument to the function directly or using the cell reference in excel.
2. The numbers must be a valid decimal number between 0 & 281474976710655.
3. If a negative number is provided as Shift_amount argument to the function, the value shifts right.
4. If Number is greater than (2^48)-1, you will get #NUM! error and you'll get #VALUE! error if either of the above two arguments is a non - numeric value.
5. The function returns the #NUM! Error
   1. If either of the decimal number is less than 0 or greater than 281474976710655 which is 248-1.
   2. If the resulting number exceeds the range of 0 to 248-1.
6. The function returns the #VALUE! Error,
   1. If the input number is text or non-numeric.
   2. If the shift_amount argument is text or non numeric.
   3. If the shift amount is less than -53 or greater than + 53.

Related Articles :

How to use the BITLSHIFT Function in Excel : BITLSHIFT function in excel performs the Bitwise Left Shift operation on a decimal number and returns the decimal number after the operation performed.

How to use the BITRSHIFT Function in Excel : BITRSHIFT function in excel perform the Bitwise Right Shift operation on a decimal number and returns the decimal number after the operation performed.

How to use the HARMEAN Function in Excel : Harmonic mean of n numbers (a ,b ,c ,d , . . .) in mathematics is calculated using the HARMEAN function in Excel.
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How to use the BITAND Function in Excel : BITAND function in excel perform the bitwise AND operation between the two decimal numbers and returns the decimal number after the operation performed.

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