In spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel, when you format a cell as currency, which of the following settings can you typically specify?

Introduction / Context:
Spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel allow users to format numbers in different ways to reflect their meaning. Currency formatting is frequently used for financial data, invoices, and budgets. When applying currency format, the software provides several options that influence how the value appears. This question asks which specific settings can be specified when formatting a cell as currency, highlighting the flexibility of number formatting tools.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are working in a spreadsheet program, for example Microsoft Excel.
• The cell is being formatted using a currency number format.
• The options reference percentage symbol, currency symbol, decimal places, a combination of settings, and thousand separators.
• We assume typical capabilities of standard currency formatting dialogs.

Concept / Approach:
When you choose a currency format in Excel, the Number Format dialog allows you to select the currency symbol (such as $, €, or ₹) and the number of decimal places to display, for example 0, 2, or more. You can also enable or disable the use of thousand separators, but the question focuses on what you can specify as part of the basic currency format. Percentage symbol is used in percentage formatting, not currency. Therefore, the correct interpretation is that you can specify both the currency symbol and the decimal places for currency formatted cells.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that in Excel, you can right click a cell, choose Format Cells, and then select the Currency category.Step 2: Notice that in the Currency category, you can choose a particular currency symbol from a drop down list, such as dollar, euro, or rupee.Step 3: Observe that there is also an option to set the number of decimal places, which affects how many digits are shown after the decimal point.Step 4: Understand that percentage symbol is associated with the Percentage format, not the Currency format.Step 5: Recognise that while thousand separators can often be turned on or off, the question specifically lists currency symbol and decimal places as separate options.Step 6: Conclude that the correct answer is Both B & C, representing currency symbol and decimal places.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can mentally walk through the Format Cells dialog. Under the Number tab, selecting Currency shows controls for decimal places and symbol. The Percentage category, on the other hand, automatically uses a percent sign and focuses on decimal places without offering a currency symbol. The thousand separator is usually a checkbox that can be applied in some formats, but the most distinctive features of currency formatting are the symbol and decimal precision. This confirms that Both B & C is a correct description of what you can specify.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Percentage symbol is not part of currency formatting; it belongs to the Percentage number format. Currency symbol alone is incomplete, because you always have control over decimal places as well. Decimal places alone is also incomplete, as it ignores the critical presence of a currency symbol in currency formatting. Thousand separator is an additional formatting option but is not the main feature highlighted in the question. Therefore, only the combination Both B & C accurately captures the typical settings you can specify for currency formatting.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may confuse percentage and currency formatting because both involve numerical values and decimal places. Others may focus on one aspect of currency formatting, such as the symbol, and forget about decimal precision. It is also easy to overlook the presence of thousand separators, which can exist in several formats, not just currency. Remembering that currency formatting is primarily about choosing the correct money symbol and the number of decimal places will help you select the correct answer in such questions.

Final Answer:
When formatting a cell in currency, you can specify Both B & C, that is, the currency symbol and the number of decimal places.