How to force LEFT function to recognize a number?

Basically I have a phone number in column A:

123-456-1234

In column B, I want it to show me the first 3 numbers from the left, (so 123)

So I do =LEFT(A2,3)

Which gives me 123, but it's displayed as text, which ruins my whole formula that looks up the area code and displays the state.

I googled the problem and found http://exceltip.com/st/Make_LEFT_Fun...umber/778.html

which tells me to do:
=IF(LEFT(A1,1)=1,"Ignore",A1) [sees 1 as a number]
=IF(LEFT(A1,1)+0=1,"Ignore",A1) [sees 1 as a number]
=IF(LEFT(A1,1)="1","Ignore",A1) [sees 1 as text]

but when i try that it just displays the ENTIRE phone number: 123-456-1234

i only want the first 3.. any ideas?

Coerce the resulting string to number, a number of ways:

=0+LEFT(A2,3)

=--LEFT(A2,3)

=1*LEFT(A2,3)

=VALUE(LEFT(A2,3))