hi im new to excel 2007

i want to ask that when i type 7/4 in a cell excel thinks that the slash is
division operator so it divides it ??

but in different cell it interpret it as date

ok another problem is that when I enter 7/4 in the different cell excel
interpret it as 4-Jul only but How do I display the year too ? even if i type
7/4/2008 or 7/4/08 it still shows 4-JUL ?

Help please
thank you very much