Functions

Functions are used to perform complex calculations which refer to RANGES of cells. They
always start with =
=FUNCTIONNAME(RANGE)
Some functions may contain more attributes. Eg:
=ROUND(M6,2)
To use most functions you must understand RANGES. A range is simply the start and end
cell reference of a group of cells. Eg: M6:M12 refers to all the cells starting at M6 and
ending at M12.

Functions-VLOOKUP
Vlookup is used to find a piece of data in a table and will return another piece of related
data from the column you specify.

In the example above, we know the form group and we have a table of tutors
stored seperatley. So we can lookup the tutor by finding thr form in this table and
looking one column to the right.
=VLOOKUP(What are you trying to find,Wher are you going to find it,how many
columns the data is along,FALSE)

Max and Min

Max and min will find the largest/highest or smallest/lowest number given range.

(To find min you just type min instead)

SUMIF will add up all the numbers in a given range IF they match a given criteria.
SUMIF takes the form:
SUMIF(Range of cells to look in, criteria to be matched)
It can also be extended in the form:
SUMIF(range of cells to look in, what you are looking for, range to add numbers
up in)
This version will allow you to look for a value in one column and then jump
across to another column and add up values there instead. Note: criteria must be
in quotes unless it is a single number on its own.

COUNTIF
COUNTIF WILL KEEP A TALLY OF HOW MANY TIMES A GIVEN
CRITERIA APPEARS IN A LIST. THIS EXAMPLE COUNTS ABS

NESTED FUNCTIONS
A nested function is simply where one function is used inside
another. In this example we calculate the average and then the
answer to this calculation is rounded because it is inside a
ROUND function!
ROUND simply rounds a number to a certain number of decimal
places and takes the form:
=ROUND(NUMBER, Amount
of decimal places)

If
The IF function allows two different outcomes,based on a rule.An IF
function takes the form:
=IF(RULE,what to do/display if true, if false)
In the example,the value in P6 must be higher or the same as the value in
B3. If the value in P6 IS higher or the same the word will be yes and if the
value is lower than it will appear as no.
It is often a help to remember that you wrtie an IF statement exactly how
you would say it in words.
IF the score is higher or the same as
the pass mark then say YES
OTHERWISE say NO.
Nested If
Sometimes we need to test more than one ruoe. The giveaway in the question is the word AND
The question here was A student is awareded a prize IF they have had a previous certificate AND they require
one
There are clearly two things to do here:
1.
2.

Do they require a certificate?

2.did they heve a previous one?

The way to answer these questions is to break it down in the questions to be answered and then write IF
for each one.
1.Do they require a certificate = IF(S6=YES
2. Did they have a previous certificate =IF(H6=YES
Then we need to put them together:

=IF(S6=YES,IF(H6=YES, , ),NO )
Now all that is left to do is fill in the remainder. What do we do IF they need a certificate but did not get a
previous one:
=IF(S6=YES,IF(H6=YES, YES ,NO ),NO )
In words this means IF they require a certificate, THEN IF they has a previous one THEN yes they can have
a certificate, OTHERWISE no they dont. IF they do NOT require one then they do not get a prize.

3.

Spreadsheets
The purpose of a spreadsheet is to make models of real life situations. We can ask
what if questions and test out hypotheses by manipulating the inputs and observing
the outputs.
A spreadsheet consists of a large table. Each cell contains one piece of information.
A row is horizontal collection of cells and is represented by a number.
A column is vertical collection of cells and is represented by letters.

Formulae
To get in to formula view press Ctrl +
A formula is a simple calculation in a spreadsheet. Formulae begin with a = sign and
consist of Cell references and make use of (), +,*, /,Formulae in excel are automatically recalculated every time an input values are
changed.

Simple
Formul
ae

B4 Input
Rules when working with spreadsheets:
1. Click to highlight all cells
2. Double click between ant column headings
Cell
Refere
nce
(i10)