Use of Formulas in Microsoft Excel: (How to perform calculations in Excel)

Use of Formulas in Microsoft Excel: (How to perform calculations in Excel)

One of the important features of Excel is its calculation abilities. Excel provides large number of formulas for calculations. Built-in formulas are known as Functions. Before going to use Functions, we must learn use of formulas; it gives us ability to use formulas in any customized calculations.

Every calculation, formula starts with equal to sign (=)

E.g. if we want to add number 4 and 5 then we must type =4+5 (now press Enter), excel will perform addition and gives us answer i.e. 9. Active cell will display result of 4+5 but formula bar is displaying =4+5

In this manner we can perform any type of calculations like:

=90-12+45*304-17/3-3 (Now just press Enter to get result)

For this kind of calculations Excel uses BODMAS rule.

In the same manner we can use cell addresses in calculation, for example to multiply A1 and A2, we must type =a1*a2, excel is going to display result in active cell.

Use of built-n functions:

There are large number of built-in formulas in excel, known as Functions. These functions are in different categories, like statistical, logical, financial, date, text, mathematical and engineering formulas.

Starting with simplest and common formula that is Sum, sum is used to add number. Either we can use comma separated numbers or a range of cells. Syntax is :

=sum(6,7,8,9) {press Enter}

Or we can use =sum(a1:a10)

A1:A10 is known as range

A1: starting cell address

A10: last cell address

(:) colon sign is used in between to form a range of adjacent cells.

Comma(,) can be used to sum non-adjacent cells.

=SUM(a1, c23, a12,e12)

Some more commonly used formulas are:

=AVERAGE(num01,num02,num03) this will return average of numbers or range

=PRODUCT(num01,num02) this will return multiplication of numbers

=POWER(number-x, power-y)

It will result into x^y

=SQRT(576) this will result into square root of number.

=MIN(A1:A10) it will find minimum(smallest) number among the range.

=MAX(A1:A10) it will find maximum(largest) number among the range.

=COUNT(11,23,34,42,51,67) it will result count of numbers, not sum or addition. So result is 6.