Teach Yourself VISUALLY Microsoft 365

CHAPTER 11

Working with Formulas and Functions

Understanding Formulas

You can use formulas, which you build using mathematical operators, values, and cell references, to perform all kinds of calculations on your Excel data. For example, you can add the contents of a column of monthly sales totals to determine the cumulative sales total. If you are new to writing formulas, this section explains the basics of building your own formulas in Excel. You learn about the correct way to structure formulas in Excel, how to reference cell data in your formulas, which mathematical operators are available for your use, and more.

Formula Structure

Ordinarily, when you write a mathematical formula, you write the values and the operators, followed by an equal sign, such as 2 + 2=. In Excel, formula structure works a bit differently. All Excel formulas begin with an equal sign (=), such as =2 + 2. The equal sign tells Excel to recognize any subsequent characters you enter as a formula rather than as a regular cell entry.

Reference a Cell

Every cell in a worksheet has a unique address, composed of the cell’s column letter and row number, and that address appears in the Name box to the left of the Formula bar. Cell B3, for example, identifies the third cell down in column B. Although you can enter ...