MS Excel 97 - Using a formula

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This is not a course. It is a...

Tip Sheet

Labels and values

The entering of data into a spreadsheet is just like word processing, but you have to first click on the cell in which you want the data to be placed before typing the data.

All words describing the values (numbers) which you enter are called labels. The numbers which you enter, and which can later be used in formula's, are called values.

Notice also that the labels are all left justified and the values are all right justified in their cells.

Simple Formula:

Place the cursor in the cell in which you want the answer (result of the formula) to appear, and press Enter once you have typed the formula

All formula's start with an = sign
Refer to the cell address instead of the value in the cell e.g. =A2+C2 instead of 45+57

+ means add	e.g. A2+C2	add the value (number) in A2 to the value (number) in C2
- means subtract	e.g. A2-C2	subtract the value (number) in C2 from the value (number) in A2
* means multiply	e.g. A2*4	multiply the value (number) in A2 by 4
/ means divide	e.g. A2/3	divide the value (number) in A2 by 3

Use BODMAS i.e. Brackets first, then Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction

e.g. =((A2-B2)*3)-100

Notice that individual sums within a sum are bracketed and appear at the beginning of the formula.

Range Formulae

These formula's are used for working with long lists of numbers. A typical range formula looks like this:

=SUM(A3:A30)

SUM is a function, meaning that it sums (adds up) the list of numbers
The list of numbers is indicated in brackets.
The address of the first cell in the list is A3.
A colon : separates this cell address from the last cell in the list, which is A30

=SUM(D3.D9)
Adds list of values from cell D3 to cell D9

sumform.jpg (29178 bytes)

=AVERAGE(D3:D9)
Averages the values from cell D3 to cell D9

aveform.jpg (31910 bytes)

Other range functions:

There are many formula functions that you could explore with time. As an educator you could you are most likely to use SUM and AVERAGE. Here are just a few more:

SUM	adds the numbers in the list
AVERAGE	averages the number in the list
PRODUCT	multiplies the number in the list
MAX	identifies the highest number in the list
MIN	identifies the lowest number in the list
COUNT	counts the number of items in the list

Notice that you must have selected an empty cell before typing the formula. The answer will then appear in that cell.