MS Excel Formulas & Functions. What are formulas & functions? Formulas are instructions that tell Excel how to perform calculations. Formulas must.

MS Excel

Formulas & Functions

What are formulas & functions?

Formulas are instructions that tell Excel how to perform calculations.

Formulas must always begin with an equals sign =

Functions are built in formulas.

MS Excel – Inserting Functions You can enter a function manually by

typing it into the formula bar. Or click on the Insert Function icon to

choose from some built in functions.

Write formula in Formula BarInsert Function

Cell Reference

Each cell is identified by its cell reference.

The cell reference is made up of the column letter followed by the row number.For example, A3. (Column A Row 3)

You can write formulas that reference specific cells. =A1+A3+D5

Example #1

= A1 + C4 - A5 = 10 + 8 - 5 = 13

Example #2

= (A1*D4)/D5 = (10*15)/100 = 150/100 = 1.5

Example #3

= B3 * 1.15 = 3 * 1.15 = 3.45

Cell References/Ranges

A cell reference can consist of a single cell or a block of cells.

Excel refers to these references as a range

To identify a “range”, key the cell references for two diagonally opposite corners of a group of cells, separated by a colon.

Range Examples

B5:B10 A range of cells in column B

Range Examples

D3:G3 A range of cells in row 3

Range Examples

C5:F12 A rectangular range of cells

Top Left = C5Bottom Right

= F12

Parts of a Function

Excel has a number of built in functions to perform common calculations

=SUM(E9:E11)

Equals Sign

Function Name

ColonCell Reference

BracketsColumn Letter

Row Number

Auto Sum Button

The AutoSum button is a shortcut for entering the SUM formula.

It enters =SUM (and suggests a range to total.)

Auto Sum ButtonAuto Sum

Suggested Range

The Fill Handle

Fill Handle

The Fill Handle allows you to copy formulas across a range of cells.

Cell references in formulas are automatically adjusted

The Fill Handle

Fill Handle

Grab the fill handle & drag in the direction where you want the formula copied

Drag where you want the

formulas copied

Types of Cell Reference

There are three types of cell references we can use in Excel. They are:

1. Relative i.e., A3

2. Absolute i.e., $A$3

3. Mixed i.e., $A3

Relative Cell Reference

A cell reference that will change relative to where it is copied.

Cell references change relative to where it is copied

Absolute Cell Reference

A cell reference that does not change when copied because the dollar sign ($) has been placed in front of both the column letter and row number.

Reference to cell $C$9 is

absolute

B11*$C$9

B12*$C$9

B13*$C$9

Mixed Cell Reference

A cell reference that has either the row or column reference as absolute and the other part of the reference relative i.e. $E4.

Reference to column $E is absolute but the row reference is relative

More Functions

Clicking on the Insert Function button will bring up a list of built in functions.

Function List

Definition

Search Functions

Excel Glossary

1. =SUM( )

2. =AVERAGE( )

3. =MAX( )

4. =MIN( )

5. IF( )

6. PMT( )

7. COUNT( )

8. COUNTIF( )

Find definitions for the following functions

Your Task

Download & complete the Excel assignment from the class website