Excel formulas
5 basics
- All Excel formulas start with an equal (=) sign. This tells Excel it is a formula.
- The answer to the formula displays in the cell that the formula is entered.
- Cells are referenced in a formula by their column-row identifier, i.e. A1, B2.
- The symbols for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are: + – * /
- You do not have to enter capital letters in your formula; Excel will automatically capitalise them.
Examples of simple formulas
=A1+A6 this Excel formula adds the contents of cell A1 and A6.
=A1+A2+A3 this Excel formula adds the contents of the three cells specified (see the SUM function for adding multiple numbers).
=A3-A1 this Excel formula subtracts the contents of cell A1 from the contents of cell A3.
=B2*B3 this Excel formula multiples the numbers in cells B2 and B3.
=G5/A5 this Excel formula divides G5 by A5 (NOTE: If you see the error message #DIV/O! in a cell, you are trying to divide by zero or a null value – which is not allowed).
=G5^2 this formula tells Excel to square the value in cell G5. The number after the caret is the exponent. Likewise, the formula H2^3 would cube the value in cell H2.
Sum and average
The following video has a section about formulas as well as functions such as sum and average.
