Excel Formula Basics

Short Description
Excel. interprets the = sign as a formula and shows the result in the table cell. … Excel. create a formula for you. When you click the = sign. Excel …

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Content
Excel Formula Basics
Excel’s toolbars:
Cancel
Enter
Edit Formula
Auto Sum
Paste Function
Function
A formula must start with an = sign.
Formula Bar
Function drop down list
?Excel interprets the = sign as a formula and shows the result in the table cell.
?With no = sign, the formula will appear in the table cell, rather than the result.
Arithmetic Symbols Used in Formulas
Function
Symbol
Key stroke
Shortcut
Add
+
Plus sign AutoSum
Subtract
-
Hyphen
Multiply
*
Asterisk
Divide
/
Forward slash
Creating Formulas and Using Functions
?You can type the equals sign (=) and a formula in the Formula Bar
?The same formula may be entered in more than one way: =SUM(B2:B5) OR =(B2+B3+B4+B5)
Easy Addition Using Auto Sum
?Select the group of cells to add and
click Auto Sum.
?Excel places the sum of the numbers
in the next cell (to the right of a row,
or under a column).
?OR select cell where the total should be located, then click Auto Sum.
1Let Excel create a formula for you
When you click the = sign Excel does the following:
?Enters an = sign in the Formula Bar
?Displays the most recently used function
?Enters a formula if you click the function
?Lets you use the drop down list to select a different function.
When you click on the function, the Formula Palette box appears:
Box(es) for cell references or other information.
An explanation appears for the active box.
Features of the Formula Palette Box
?An explanation tells you what information is needed in the active entry box
?Click the collapse box button to switch to your worksheet
?When you select data on your worksheet, cell references appear in the palette box
?Return to the palette box by clicking the return button
Use Paste Function to save steps
Select a cell and use the Paste Function fx icon to bring up this dialog box:
When you choose a function from the
Function name list, the Formula Pallet
box appears. (See previous section.)
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