Mathematical Formulas and Excel Formulas and Functions

Formulas The real power of spreadsheets. Automatically calculates math, based on formulas that you input into specific cells. What can you include in these formulas? Addition (+) Subtraction(-) Multiplication(*) Division(/) Exponents (^)

Formulas Indicator Syntax the first sign in a spreadsheet formula In excel we always start formulas with an equal sign (=) Syntax Formulas must follow a specific sequence in order to work properly. Excel: Follows the BEDMAS rule Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction

Getting Used to Formulas To add numbers together Type Cell Locations, NOT values in the cell you are working in where the answer should appear. i.e. =B3 + A1 + B2 To Multiply or Divide Cells are separated by either * or / i.e. = (B3*A3)/4 Excel will calculate the multiplication in the brackets first, then divide the answer by 4.

Functions in Excel Using a function instead of a formula will make the input of a formula much faster. Functions are pre-formatted mathematical demands that indicate to the program what calculations need to be done. Instead of entering every individual cell – you can insert a function and select a range of cells. Example: Instead of the formula = A1+A2+A3+A4 We use the function = SUM(A1:A4)

Spreadsheet Functions Frequently Used Spreadsheet Functions SUM – calculates the total of a range of cells MIN- identifies the lowest value (minimum) in the range of values specified MAX – identifies the highest value (maximum) in the range of values specified AVERAGE or AVG – calculates the arithmetic mean of the values in the specified cells COUNT – counts the number of numeric values in the range specified

What makes up a formula with a function? The indicator (=) The function name (e.g. SUM, AVG) The arguments (contained within brackets) – the cells on which you want the function performed =AVG(B3:B14) FUNCTION ARGUMENT INDICATOR

Inserting Functions Click on the fx button next to the formula bar. Select the function you wish to insert. You may have to search for it using the search bar. A box will appear that will allow you to select your cells/range. Click ok when you are finished. Non consecutive cells are separated by a comma (,) Consecutive cells are separated by a colon (:)

Fill Down and Fill Across This allows you to take a formula or data and replicate it down an entire column or across an entire row. Absolute Cell Referencing: Will keep a certain cell constant while changing others. Insert $ before both column and row reference ($A$1) that you would like to keep the same when you fill down or across. Relative Referencing: Will replicate a value down a column or across a row and change the values relative to the cell that you are copying too.

Tips Pressing CTRL + ~ allows you to toggle between viewing your values and formulas/functions in a spreadsheet. ESC will allow you to exit out of inserting a formula/function if you have made an error. Double clicking on the seam of a column or row will automatically adjust it to be the width of the information in the cell.

Common Errors in Excel Formulas #### means the column is too narrow for the values. #NAME? means a cell name is incorrect (ie. AQ instead of A3). #REF! means a cell you are referring to in a calculation has likely been deleted. #VALUE! means a cell you want to use in a formula is probably a label.