What are Formulas and Functions?

Formulas are equations that you can use to perform calculations on the data in your worksheet. Functions are built-in formulas that make complex calculations easier.

Commonly Used Formulas

• Addition:=A1 + B1 (adds the values in cells A1 and B1)

• Subtraction:=A1 - B1 (subtracts the value in B1 from the value in A1)

• Multiplication:=A1 * B1 (multiplies the values in A1 and B1)

• Division:=A1 / B1 (divides the value in A1 by the value in B1)

Commonly Used Functions

• SUM:Adds a range of cells. Example: =SUM(A1:A10)

• AVERAGE:Calculates the average of a range of cells. Example: =AVERAGE(A1:A10)

• MAX:Finds the highest value in a range. Example: =MAX(A1:A10)

• MIN:Finds the lowest value in a range. Example: =MIN(A1:A10)

How to Enter Formulas and Functions

• Step 1:Click on the cell where you want the result.

• Step 2:Type = followed by the formula or function.

• Step 3:Press Enter to see the result.

Example

Suppose you have sales figures in cells A1 to A10. Use the SUM function to calculate the total sales by typing =SUM(A1:A10) in another cell.

Activity

Create a table with sample numerical data. Practice entering basic formulas and functions like sum, average, maximum, and minimum.

Quiz