Search This Blog

15 January 2011

Formulas in Excel

 Some Info for formulas:
  • All formulas begin with a = sign
  • To enter a formula, Simply click on the cell, and start typing the formula. Remember the “equal to” sign.
  • The simple mathematical operators that can be used are 
                          *              Multiplication
                         
/               Division                         
                         +              Addition                        
                          -              Subtraction
  • Always remember the order of operations, indicating which procedures need to be performed first in the given mathematical expression. (DON'T PANIC; it gets easier as you keep on doing it).
  • Mnemonics like BE(I)DMAS and PEDMAS can help a lot. Wiki Article Mnemonics Link Here 
              It stands for Parentheses (Brackets), Exponentiation (Index), Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
  • When in doubt USE PARENTHESIS/BRACKETS to indicate the preference of operations.
              So in future instead of writing 2*4-5  write it as (2*4) - 5 and read it as "2 times 4 and then minus 5"
              Once you start reading the formulas correct the battle is won. 
  •  Formulas like  =21*5 will yield result when enter/return is pressed. This will stay static.
  •  Formulas which use the cells as operands i.e., like =D3+E3 will result in the sum of cells D3 and E3. This will change results once the values in the mentioned cells change. Note that a  blank cell is treated as zero.
            These are the basic formulas. 

Other than this there are some inbuilt formulas and you can use complex mathematical operands in excel. More about it in the later posts.


Hope this Helps.

13 comments:

  1. Dude this is a very useful blog!

    followin'

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pretty basic stuff but hey, someone may not know it. Following and supporting!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ah, excel is the best when you actually know how to use it. Good post!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pretty usefull info, man! It may come handy!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great info! I'm going to have to check this for updates daily

    ReplyDelete
  6. Excel is freakishly awesome when you get into it. I write Excel VBA that uses COM Automation to script the AS/400 front end client we use at work. It has increased productivity exponentially for my department. Projects that used to take days by hand now can get done in minutes.

    I'm always looking for new excel tips and tricks. Great stuff, keep it coming!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great Blog! I use Excel on a daily basis. Following!

    blundersfrom6foot2.blogspot.com
    androidnews4u.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Some useful tips on this blog. Will follow as these could help with my office work.

    ReplyDelete
  9. wow this sounds complex, ill try to figure it out if im im ever using excel

    ReplyDelete
  10. Im studying how to use xl, right now too.

    Awesome guide

    ReplyDelete