The error ##### occurs when?
(A) Column is not wide enough
(B) Negative date
(C) Negative time
(D) Row is not wide enough
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (A), (B) and (C) only
Excel shows ##### in a cell when it cannot display the value in the space given. This happens when the column is too narrow for the content, or when a date or time works out to a negative value, which Excel cannot show as a date or time.
(A) Column is not wide enough Correct. A number or date wider than the column is replaced by #####; widening the column (AutoFit Column Width) shows it again.
(B) Negative date Correct. Excel keeps dates as serial numbers counted forward, so a formula giving a date before the starting point produces a negative number that cannot be shown as a date.
(C) Negative time Correct. The same applies to time: a negative time value cannot be displayed in a time format, so the cell shows #####.
(D) Row is not wide enough Incorrect. The error depends on the width of the column, not the row. A short row only cuts the text from view vertically; it does not produce #####.
NCERT (2026-27 edition): |