Excel: Working With Formulas

Cooperative Conversations January 12, 2007

Introduction to Excel
Workbook, Sheet, Row, Column, Cell

Introduction to Excel
Name Box (Cell Address) Formula Bar (Contents of Cell)

Cells can contain Values or Formulas Commas separate values (1,2,3) is 1 and 2 and 3 Colons indicate ranges (A2:A5) is Cell A2 through A5

Introduction to Formulas
All Formulas begin with = Basic Formulas (numbers, cells, or both)
Add + =10+5 Subtract - Multiply * =10-5 =10*5 Divide / =10/5

=B3+C3 =B3+5

=B3-C3 =B3-5

=B3*C3 =B3*5

=B3/C3 =B3/5

Introduction to Formulas
All Formulas begin with = Advanced Formulas (multiple operations)
Math rules apply, multiplication and division are done first, addition and subtraction next Use Parentheses to manipulate order
Formula =10-5-2 =10-5*2
=B2-C2-D2 =B2-C2*D2

Result 3 0
3 0

Formula =10/5*2 =(10-5)*2

=B2/C2*D2 =(B2-C2)*D2

Result 4 10
4 10

Introduction to Formulas
All Formulas begin with = Automatic Functions (Toolbar button )
=Sum(1,2) or =Sum(A3,A7,A9) or =Sum(A1:A5) =Average(1,3,5) or =Average(A1:A3,A5) =Count(A1:A5) =Max(B2:B25) =Min(B2:B25)

Menu Insert/Function for more options Use the Help menu

Introduction to Formulas
Formulas can be combined
The SUM of participants from the first six months (29) PLUS the SUM of participants from the last six months (34) is (63) then MULTIPLIED by the result of twelve MINUS four (8) to result in 504

Or the result of a formula can be used in a formula

Introduction to Formulas
Formulas can reference different Workbooks or Sheets
=A10*Sheet2!B5 is the value from Cell A10 of our current worksheet multiplied by the value of Cell B5 from Sheet 2

Formulas can round (ROUND), give results based on criteria that you set (IF), or can calculate a payment schedule (PMT) based on a principal value and interest rates

Tips
Sum () toolbar button (etc.) will automatically select adjacent cells until interrupted by text or an empty cell

Different cells can be selected by dragging the mouse from the start cell to the end cell

Tips
Parentheses will bold briefly when closed to help identify which portion of your formula has been completed Cells will be outlined in the same color as the text in the formula when the cursor is in the formula bar

Tips
Formulas with errors will have a green triangle on the cell, and a symbol on the right when the cell is selected that may offer help resolving the issue
#Value! Indicates that there is an error with the formula in this case there is a number being multiplied by a cell that contains text #Ref! Indicates that there is an invalid cell reference usually because a formula has been copied or moved ###### Indicates that the value to be displayed is larger than will fit in the cell