In spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel, concatenation of text values can be performed using which symbol or operator?

Introduction / Context:
Spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel often need to combine pieces of text, such as first names and last names, into a single cell. This operation is called concatenation. Knowing the operator used for concatenation helps in writing formulas and automating text processing tasks inside spreadsheets.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to spreadsheet software, for example Excel.
• The options list several symbols: ampersand, hash, apostrophe, and exclamation mark.
• We assume the learner has seen basic formulas in Excel.
• The focus is specifically on concatenating or joining text values.

Concept / Approach:
In Excel, text concatenation can be performed using the ampersand operator or the CONCATENATE function in older versions. For example, =A1 & B1 joins the contents of two cells. The other symbols have different meanings: hash may indicate an error or be part of a format code, the apostrophe is used to enter a number as text, and the exclamation mark separates sheet names from cell references. Therefore the ampersand is the correct operator for concatenation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that to join two text values in Excel, you can write a formula like =A1 & B1.Step 2: Observe that the ampersand is used between the two cell references to combine their contents.Step 3: Consider the role of the hash symbol, which is often associated with errors such as #### or function names in other contexts.Step 4: Consider the apostrophe, which makes Excel treat the following value as text but does not join strings.Step 5: Consider the exclamation mark, which separates worksheet names from cell references like Sheet1!A1, not for concatenating text. Therefore the ampersand must be the correct operator.

Verification / Alternative check:
Excel help documentation and tutorials show numerous examples of text concatenation using the ampersand operator. For instance, combining first name and last name into a full name is commonly written as =A2 & " " & B2, where the ampersand joins each part. The CONCAT or TEXTJOIN functions in newer versions internally perform the same logical operation, but the symbol based operator remains the ampersand.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The hash symbol is mainly used to indicate errors like division by zero or to format numbers in custom formats; it is not a concatenation operator. The apostrophe character is a prefix to force numeric input to be stored as text and does not combine cells. The exclamation mark separates worksheet names from addresses and has nothing to do with joining strings. Therefore these symbols do not represent concatenation in spreadsheets.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse the different uses of special characters in Excel and wrongly assume that any symbol might be used in formulas for many operations. It is important to practice writing simple formulas and note how the ampersand acts like a plus sign for text. Recognizing these distinct roles prevents mistakes when designing spreadsheets.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Ampersand symbol (&), because this is the operator used in Excel formulas to concatenate or join text values.