CHAPTER 9

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Introducing Formula Concepts

Q: What does every newborn spreadsheet need?

A: Formula

Spreadsheet formulas hold a unique place in advanced Excel development. Most of us are familiar with formulas as a means to produce results more quickly than with manual calculation. For example, if we want to find the arithmetic sum of a range, does it make sense to pull out the Burroughs Adding Machine and punch in each item one by one? No. The very nature of a spreadsheet provides a built-in means to manipulate its elements.

Most of us are used to this type of manipulation with formulas; that is, we use formulas as a means to find and return results. ...

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