Use Excel as your calculator
Instead of using a calculator, use Microsoft Excel to do the math!
You can enter simple formulas to add, divide, multiply, and subtract two or more numeric values. Or use the AutoSum feature to quickly total a series of values without entering them manually in a formula. After you create a formula, you can copy it into adjacent cells — no need to create the same formula over and over again.
Subtract in Excel
Multiply in Excel
Divide in Excel
Learn more about simple formulas
All formula entries begin with an equal sign (=). For simple formulas, simply type the equal sign followed by the numeric values that you want to calculate and the math operators that you want to use — the plus sign (+) to add, the minus sign (—) to subtract, the asterisk (*) to multiply, and the forward slash (/) to divide. Then, press ENTER, and Excel instantly calculates and displays the result of the formula.
For example, when you type =12.99+16.99 in cell C5 and press ENTER, Excel calculates the result and displays 29.98 in that cell.
The formula that you enter in a cell remains visible in the formula bar, and you can see it whenever that cell is selected.
Important: Although there is a SUM function, there is no SUBTRACT function. Instead, use the minus (-) operator in a formula; for example, =8-3+2-4+12. Or, you can use a minus sign to convert a number to its negative value in the SUM function; for example, the formula =SUM(12,5,-3,8,-4) uses the SUM function to add 12, 5, subtract 3, add 8, and subtract 4, in that order.
Use AutoSum
The easiest way to add a SUM formula to your worksheet is to use AutoSum. Select an empty cell directly above or below the range that you want to sum, and on the Home or Formula tabs of the ribbon, click AutoSum > Sum. AutoSum will automatically sense the range to be summed and build the formula for you. This also works horizontally if you select a cell to the left or right of the range that you need to sum.
Note: AutoSum does not work on non-contiguous ranges.
AutoSum vertically
In the figure above, the AutoSum feature is seen to automatically detect cells B2:B5 as the range to sum. All you need to do is press ENTER to confirm it. If you need to add/exclude more cells, you can hold the Shift Key + the arrow key of your choice until your selection matches what you want. Then press Enter to complete the task.
Intellisense function guide: the SUM(number1,[number2], …) floating tag beneath the function is its Intellisense guide. If you click the SUM or function name, it will change o a blue hyperlink to the Help topic for that function. If you click the individual function elements, their representative pieces in the formula will be highlighted. In this case, only B2:B5 would be highlighted, since there is only one number reference in this formula. The Intellisense tag will appear for any function.
AutoSum horizontally
Learn more in the article on the SUM function.
Avoid rewriting the same formula
After you create a formula, you can copy it to other cells — no need to rewrite the same formula. You can either copy the formula, or use the fill handle to copy the formula to adjacent cells.
For example, when you copy the formula in cell B6 to C6, the formula in that cell automatically changes to update to cell references in column C.
When you copy the formula, ensure that the cell references are correct. Cell references may change if they have relative references. For more information, see Copy and paste a formula to another cell or worksheet.
What can I use in a formula to mimic calculator keys?
Calculator key |
Excel method |
Description, example |
Result |
+ (Plus key) |
+ (plus) |
Use in a formula to add numbers. Example: =4+6+2 |
12 |
— (Minus key) |
— (minus) |
Use in a formula to subtract numbers or to signify a negative number. Example: =18-12 Example: =24*-5 (24 times negative 5) |
-120 |
x (Multiply key) |
* (asterisk; also called «star») |
Use in a formula to multiply numbers. Example: =8*3 |
24 |
÷ (Divide key) |
/ (forward slash) |
Use in a formula to divide one number by another. Example: =45/5 |
9 |
% (Percent key) |
% (percent) |
Use in a formula with * to multiply by a percent. Example: =15%*20 |
3 |
√ (square root) |
SQRT (function) |
Use the SQRT function in a formula to find the square root of a number. Example: =SQRT(64) |
8 |
1/x (reciprocal) |
=1/n |
Use =1/n in a formula, where n is the number you want to divide 1 by. Example: =1/8 |
0.125 |
Need more help?
You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community or get support in the Answers community.
Need more help?
How to Use Excel as a Calculator?
In Excel, by default, there is no calculator button or option available in it. But, we can enable it manually from the “Options” section and then from the “Quick Access Toolbar,” where we can go to the commands not available in the ribbon. There further, we will find the calculator option available. Just click on “Add” and the “OK” to add the calculator to our Excel ribbon.
I have never seen beyond Excel to do the calculations in my career. Most of the calculations are possible with Excel spreadsheets. Not only are the calculations, but they are also flexible enough to reflect the immediate results if there are any modifications to the numbers, which is the power of applying formulas.
By using formulas, we need to worry about all the steps in the calculations because formulas will capture the numbers and show immediate real-time results for us. Excel has hundreds of built-in formulas to work with some of the complex calculations. On top of this, we see the spreadsheet as a mathematics calculator to add, divide, subtract, and multiply.
Table of contents
- How to Use Excel as a Calculator?
- How to Calculate in Excel Sheet?
- Example #1 – Use Formulas in Excel as a Calculator
- Example #2 – Use Cell References
- Example #3 – Cell Reference Formulas are Flexible
- Example #4 – Formula Cell is not Value, It is the only Formula
- Example #5 – Built-In Formulas are Best Suited for Excel
- Recommended Articles
- How to Calculate in Excel Sheet?
This article will show you how to use Excel as a calculator.
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How to Calculate in Excel Sheet?
Below are examples of how to use Excel as a calculator.
You can download this Calculation in Excel Template here – Calculation in Excel Template
Example #1 – Use Formulas in Excel as a Calculator
As told, Excel has many of its built-in formulas, and on top of this, we can use Excel in the form of a calculator. To enter anything in the cell, we type the content in the required cell but apply the formula, and we need to start the equal sign in the cell.
Follow the below steps.
- So, to start any calculation, we need first to enter an equal sign, indicating that we are not just entering. Rather, we are entering the formula.
- Once the equal sign is entered in the cell, we can enter the formula. For example, assume that if we want to calculate the addition of two numbers, 50 and 30, we first need to enter the number we want to add.
- Once the number is entered, we need to go back to the basics of mathematics. Since we are doing the addition, we need to apply the PLUS (+) sign.
- After the addition sign (+), we must enter the second number. Then, we need to add to the first number.
- Now, press the ENTER key to get the result in cell A1.
So, 50 + 30 = 80.
It is the basic use of ExcelIn today’s corporate working and data management process, Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool.» Every employee is required to have this expertise. The primary uses of Excel are as follows: Data Analysis and Interpretation, Data Organizing and Restructuring, Data Filtering, Goal Seek Analysis, Interactive Charts and Graphs.
read more as a calculator. Similarly, we can use cell references to the formulaCell reference in excel is referring the other cells to a cell to use its values or properties. For instance, if we have data in cell A2 and want to use that in cell A1, use =A2 in cell A1, and this will copy the A2 value in A1.read more.
Example #2 – Use Cell References
For example, look at the below values in cells A1, A2, and A3.
- We must open an equal sign in the A4 cell.
- Then, select cell A1 first.
- After selecting cell A1, we need to put a plus sign and choose the A2 cell.
- Now, put one more plus sign and select A3 cell.
- Press the “ENTER” key to get the result in the A4 cell.
It is the result of using cell references.
Example #3 – Cell Reference Formulas are Flexible
By using cell references, we can make the formula real-time and flexible. We said cell reference formulas are flexible because if we make any changes to the formula input cells (A1, A2, A3), it will reflect the changes in the formula cell (A4).
- We will change the number in cell A2 from 40 to 50.
We have changed the number but have not yet pressed the “ENTER” key. If we hit the “ENTER” key, we can see the result in the A4 cell.
- The moment we press the “ENTER” key, we see the impact on cell A4.
Example #4 – Formula Cell is not Value, It is the only Formula
We need to know when we use a cell reference for formulas because formula cells hold the result of the formula, not the value itself.
- Suppose we have a value of 50 in cell C2.
- If we copy and paste it to the next cell, we still get the value of 50 only.
- But, now come back to cell A4.
- Here we can see 90, but this is not the value but the formula. So we will copy and paste it to the next cell and see what we get.
Oh oh!!! We got zero.
We got zero because cell A4 has the formula =A1 + A2 + A3. When we copy cell A4 and paste it to B4, formula-referenced cells are changed from A1 + A2 + A3 to B1 + B2 + B3.
We got zero since there are no values in the cells B1, B2, and B3. So now, we will put 60 in any of the cells in B1, B2, and B3 and see the result.
- Look here the moment we have entered 60; we got the result as 60 because cell B4 already has the cell reference of the above three cells (B1, B2, and B3).
Example #5 – Built-In Formulas are Best Suited for Excel
We have seen how to use cell references for the formulas in the above examples. But those are best suited only for the small number of data sets, for a maximum of 5 to 10 cells.
Now, look at the below data.
We have numbers from A1 to D5, and in the B7 cell, we need the total of these numbers. In these large data sets, we cannot give individual cell references, which takes a lot of time for us. That is where Excel’s built-in formulas come into the example.
- We should first open the SUM functionThe SUM function in excel adds the numerical values in a range of cells. Being categorized under the Math and Trigonometry function, it is entered by typing “=SUM” followed by the values to be summed. The values supplied to the function can be numbers, cell references or ranges.read more in cell B7.
- Now, hold the left-click of the mouse and select the range of cells from A1 to D5.
- After that, close the bracket and press the “Enter” key.
So, like this, we can use built-in formulas to work with large data sets.
This way, we can calculate in the Excel sheet.
Recommended Articles
This article is a guide to Excel as a Calculator. Here, we discuss how to do a calculation in an Excel sheet with examples and downloadable Excel templates. You may also look at these useful functions in Excel: –
- Calculate Percentage in Excel Formula
- Multiply in Excel Formula
- How to Divide using Excel Formulas?
- Excel Subtraction Formula
How to Calculate in Excel (Table of Contents)
- Introduction to Calculations in Excel
- Examples of Calculations in Excel
Introduction to Calculations in Excel
The following article provides an outline for Calculations in Excel. MS Excel is the most preferred option for calculation; most investment bankers and financial analysts use it to do data crunching, prepare presentations, or model data.
There are two ways to perform the Excel calculation: Formula and the second is Function. Where formula is the normal arithmetic operation like summation, multiplication, subtraction, etc. Function is the inbuilt formula like SUM (), COUNT (), COUNTA (), COUNTIF (), SQRT () etc.
Operator Precedence: It will use default order to calculate; if there is some operation in parentheses, then it will calculate that part first, then multiplication or division after that addition or subtraction. It is the same as the BODMAS rule.
Examples of Calculations in Excel
Here are some examples of How to Use Excel to Calculate Basic calculations.
You can download this Calculations Excel Template here – Calculations Excel Template
Example #1 – Basic Calculations like Multiplication, Summation, Subtraction, and Square Root
Here we are going to learn how to do basic calculations like multiplication, summation, subtraction, and square root in Excel.
Let’s assume a user wants to perform calculations like multiplication, summation, subtraction by 4 and find out the square root of all numbers in Excel.
Let’s see how we can do this with the help of calculations.
Step 1: Open an Excel sheet. Go to sheet 1 and insert the data as shown below.
Step 2: Now create headers for Multiplication, Summation, Subtraction, and Square Root in row one.
Step 3: Now calculate the multiplication by 4. Use the equal sign to calculate. Write in cell C2 and use asterisk symbol (*) to multiply “=A2*4“
Step 4: Now press on the Enter key; multiplication will be calculated.
Step 5: Drag the same formula to the C9 cell to apply to the remaining cells.
Step 6: Now calculate subtraction by 4. Use an equal sign to calculate. Write in cell D2 “=A2-4“
Step 7: Now click on the Enter key, the subtraction will be calculated.
Step 8: Drag the same formula till cell D9 to apply to the remaining cells.
Step 9: Now calculate the addition by 4, use an equal sign to calculate. Write in E2 Cell “=A2+4“
Step 10: Now press on the Enter key, the addition will be calculated.
Step 11: Drag the same formula to the E9 cell to apply to the remaining cells.
Step 12: Now calculate the square root>> use equal sign to calculate >> Write in F2 Cell >> “=SQRT (A2“
Step 13: Now, press on the Enter key >> square root will be calculated.
Step 14: Drag the same formula till the F9 cell to apply the remaining cell.
Summary of Example 1: As the user wants to perform calculations like multiplication, summation, subtraction by 4 and find out the square root of all numbers in MS Excel.
Example #2 – Basic Calculations like Summation, Average, and Counting
Here we are going to learn how to use Excel to calculate basic calculations like summation, average, and counting.
Let’s assume a user wants to find out total sales, average sales, and the total number of products available in his stock for sale.
Let’s see how we can do this with the help of calculations.
Step 1: Open an Excel sheet. Go to Sheet1 and insert the data as shown below.
Step 2: Now create headers for Result table, Grand Total, Number of Product and an Average Sale of his product in column D.
Step 3: Now calculate grand total sales. Use the SUM function to calculate the grand total. Write in cell E3. “=SUM (“
Step 4: Now, it will ask for the numbers, so give the data range, which is available in column B. Write in cell E3. “=SUM (B2:B11) “
Step 5: Now press on the Enter key. Grand total sales will be calculated.
Step 6: Now calculate the total number of products in the stock, use the COUNT function to calculate the grand total. Write in cell E4 “=COUNT (“
Step 7: Now, it will ask for the values, so give the data range, which is available in column B. Write in cell E4. “=COUNT (B2:B11) “
Step 8: Now press on the Enter key. The total number of products will be calculated.
Step 9: Now calculate the average sale of products in the stock, use the AVERAGE function to calculate the average sale. Write in cell E5. “=AVERAGE (“
Step 10: Now, it will ask for the numbers, so give the data range which is available in column B. Write in cell E5. “=AVERAGE (B2:B11) “
Step 11: Now click on the Enter key. The average sale of products will be calculated.
Summary of Example 2: As the user wants to find out total sales, average sales, and the total number of products available in his stock for sale.
Things to Remember about Calculations in Excel
- During calculations, if there are some operations in parentheses, then it will calculate that part first, then multiplication or division after that addition or subtraction.
- It is the same as the BODMAS rule: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction.
- When a user uses an equal sign (=) in any cell, it means that the user is going to put some formula, not a value.
- A small difference from the normal mathematics symbol like multiplication uses asterisk symbol (*) and for division uses forward-slash (/).
- There is no need to write the same formula for each cell; once it is written, then just copy-paste to other cells, it will calculate automatically.
- A user can use the SQRT function to calculate the square root of any value; it has only one parameter. But a user cannot calculate square root for a negative number; it will throw an error #NUM!
- If a negative value occurs as output, use the ABS formula to determine the absolute value, which is an in-built function in MS Excel.
- A user can use the COUNTA in-built function if there is confusion in the data type because COUNT supports only numeric values.
Recommended Articles
This is a guide to Calculations in Excel. Here we discuss how to use excel to calculate along with examples and a downloadable excel template. You may also look at the following articles to learn more –
- Create a Lookup Table in Excel
- Use of COLUMNS Formula in Excel
- CHOOSE Formula in Excel with Examples
- What is Chart Wizard in Excel?
Download Article
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Excel is the spreadsheet application component of the Microsoft Office suite of programs. Using Microsoft Excel, you can calculate a monthly payment for any type of loan or credit card. This will allow you to be more accurate in your personal budgeting and to allocate adequate funds for your monthly payments. The best way to calculate a monthly payment in Excel is by using the «functions» feature.
Things You Should Know
- Use the PMT function to calculate monthly payments for a loan based on constant payments and interest rates.
- To use the PMT function, you’ll need to specify the balance, interest rate, and number of months over which you want to make payments.
-
1
Launch Microsoft Excel and open a new workbook.
-
2
Save the workbook file with an appropriate and descriptive name.
- This will help you find your work later on if you need to refer to it or make changes to the information.
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-
3
Create labels in cells A1 down to A4 for the variables and result of your monthly payment calculation.
- Type «Balance» in cell A1, «Interest rate» in cell A2 and «Periods» in cell A3.
- Type «Monthly Payment» in cell A4.
-
4
Enter the variables for your loan or credit card account in the cells from B1 down to B3 to create your Excel formula.
- The outstanding balance due will be entered in cell B1.
- The annual interest rate, divided by the number of accrual periods in a year, will be entered in cell B2. You can use an Excel formula here, such as «=.06/12» to represent 6 percent annual interest that is accrued monthly.
- The number of periods for your loan will be entered in cell B3. If you are calculating the monthly payment for a credit card, enter the number of periods as the difference in months between today and the date you would like to have your account paid in full.
- For example, if you would like to have your credit card account paid off 3 years from today, enter the number of periods as «36.» Three years multiplied by 12 months per year is equal to 36.
-
5
Select cell B4 by clicking on it.
-
6
Click the function shortcut button at the left edge of the formula bar. It will be labeled «fx.»
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7
Search for the «PMT» Excel formula if it is not shown in the list.
-
8
Highlight the «PMT» function and then click the «OK» button.
-
9
Create references to the cells in which your details have been entered for each field in the «Function Arguments» window.
- Click inside the «Rate» field window and then click cell B2. The «Rate» field will now pull the information from this cell.
- Repeat for the «Nper» field by clicking inside this field and then clicking cell B3 to force the number of periods to be pulled.
- Repeat once more for the «PV» field by clicking inside the field and then clicking cell B1. This will force the balance of your loan or credit card account to be pulled for the function.
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10
Leave the «FV» and «Type» fields blank in the «Function Arguments» window.
-
11
Complete the process by clicking the «OK» button.
- Your calculated monthly payment will be shown in cell B4, next to the «Monthly Payment» label.
-
12
Finished.
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-
Question
How do I calculate a loan payment based on the price of a house and a down payment?
Banks use all kinds of tricks. The bank reference book on interest is like 500 pages long. You have to ask the bank for the answer and by all means, shop around. Don’t forget, there’s also property taxes, insurance, heating, electric, water, maintenance, etc. If you default on any one of these, you lose the gamble.
-
Question
How do I calculate interest and principal if the payment amount is different from day to day?
To do so, add up all the payments of the month and then find the average by dividing the total payment by the amount of days.
-
Question
How do I calculate monthly payments over 10 years?
there are 120 periods in 10 years, so PMT(Interest rate(0.005)), period (120), your balance.
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Copy the cells from A1 down and over to B4, and then paste this in cells D1 through E4. This will allow you to edit the details in this second calculation to review alternate variables while preserving your initial calculation.
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
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-
Make sure you have properly converted your interest rate to a decimal and you divide the annual interest rate by the number of periods within a year that the interest is accrued. If your interest is accrued quarterly, you would divide the interest rate by 4. Semiannual interest rates are divided by 2.
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Things You’ll Need
- Computer
- Microsoft Excel
- Account details
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If you’re getting started with Excel, creating formulas is one of the first things you should learn. In this lesson you’ll learn how to create simple formulas and calculations in Excel.
At its heart, Excel is a giant calculator. In fact, a simple way to think about Excel is to consider each cell in a worksheet like an individual calculator. An Excel spreadsheet has millions of cells, which means you have millions of individual calculators to work with. Not only that, but you can create formulas that link different cells together (e.g. add the value in this cell to the value in that cell). You can create formulas that link cells in different worksheets together. And you can even create formulas that link cells in different workbooks together.
How to enter a formula in Excel
In Excel, each cell can contain a calculation. In Excel jargon we call this a formula. Each cell can contain one formula. When you enter a formula in a cell, Excel calculates the result of that formula and displays the result of that calculation to you. In fact, when you enter a formula into any cell, Excel will recalculate the result of all the cells in the worksheet. This normally happens in the blink of an eye so you won’t normally notice it, although you may find that large and complex spreadsheets can take longer to recalculate.
When entering a formula, you have to make sure Excel knows that’s what you want to do. You start by typing the = (equals) sign, then the rest of your formula. If you don’t type the equals sign first, then Excel will assume you are typing either a number or a text. You can also start a formula with either a plus (+) or minus (-) symbol. Excel will assume you’re typing a formula and insert the equals sign for you.
Here are some examples of some simple Excel formulas and their results:
In this example, there are four basic formulas:
- Addition (+)
- Subtraction (—)
- Multiplication (*)
- Division (/)
In each case, you would type the equals sign (=), then the formula, then press Enter to tell Excel you’ve finished.
- Sometimes Excel will show you a warning rather than just entering your formula. This will happen if the formula you’ve typed is invalid, i.e. is not in a format that Excel recognises. It will usually also give you some indication of what you did wrong.
- Other times, Excel may enter the formula you have typed correctly but then show you an error such as #VALUE. This means that you have entered a formula that was value, but Excel could not calculate a valid result from your formula.
Creating formulas that refer to other cells in the same worksheet
Excel’s power comes from allowing you to create formulas that refer to the values in other cells.
In the example above, you’ll notice the headings across the top (A, B) and down the left (1,2,3,4,5). By comining these values, we have a unique reference each cell in a worksheet (A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, and so on).
When you create a formula, you can refer to other cells using these cell references to incorporate the values in other cells into a formula. The value in another cell might be a simple number, or another cell containing a formula. When you create a formula that refers to another cell that also contains a formula, your formula will use the result of the formula in that other cell. Then, if the result of the formula in that other cell changes, so too does the result in your formula.
Here are some examples of some Excel formulas that refer to other cells:
In this example, rows 6-8 build on the earlier examples to link cells together:
- B6 adds the values in B2 and B3 together. If you change either of the values in B2 or B3 the result in B6 will change too.
- B7 and B8 subtract and multiply the values in other cells.
- B9 goes a step further and divides B8 by B3. Note that B8 in turn multiplied B5 and B2 together. So changing the values in either B5 or B2 will have a domino effect, where the value in B8 will change, and so the value in B9 will change too. Note that Excel handles all of this the moment you finish entering a change in either B5 or B2.
Creating formulas that refer to cells in other worksheets
When you first open Excel, you start with a single worksheet. However, Excel allows you to have more than one worksheet inside a single spreadsheet file (known as a workbook). In fact, in earlier versions of Excel a new workbook automatically started out with 3 worksheets inside it.
Earlier we saw how to link two cells together within a worksheet by referring to other cells using their cell reference value. Referring to a cell inside another worksheet works in much the same way, but we need to provide more information about the location of that cell so Excel knows which cell we’re talking about.
Here are some examples of formulas that refer to cells in another worksheet inside the same workbook:
In this example, the formulas in B10 and B11 refer to cells in another worksheet called Data.
- B10 multiples the value in B9 by the value in cell A2 in the worksheet called Data
- B11 takes the value A4 in the worksheet called Data and divides it by the value in B9.
In other words, we’ve told Excel to go to the worksheet called Data and use values in that worksheet in our formulas.
There are a couple of ways to create formulas like this:
- Type the formula in by hand. In the above example, you would create the reference to the other worksheet by typing the worksheet name followed by an exclamation mark (!); the exclamation mark tells Excel that you’re referring to another worksheet.
- Start typing the formula by typing the equals sign (=), then click on the name of the other worksheet. Excel will switch to the other worksheet, and you can click on the cell you want to reference in your formula. You can then press Enter to finish entering the formula, or you can click back on the original worksheet name and finish typing your formula before pressing Enter.
Note that if you rename the worksheet called Data, the formulas that refer to Data will automatically update to reflect the new name. Here’s what the above examples look like if we change the name of the worksheet called Data to Daily Data.
Note how Excel has put apostrophes around the name of the worksheet called Daily Data. This is because of the space in the worksheet name. Excel does this to make sure that the reference still works; if you manually type the formula without the apostrophes then Excel will not be able to validate the formula, and will not let you enter it.
Creating formulas that link to other workbooks
As you might imagine what we’ve already covered, it is also possible to create a formulat that refers to cells in another workbook (i.e. another file). Once again, it’s simply a matter of correctly referring to the cell in the other workbook.
The following example shows what this looks like:
In this example, B12 contains a formula that refers to cell D6 in a worksheet called Data in a file called Excel-data-table-xlsx.
- The square brackets are used to indicate the filename, i.e. [filename]. Be aware that if the file referred to is not currently open, the square brackets may also include the full file path to that file, so that Excel can still read the value from the cell being referred to even though the file is not open.
- The apostrophes are used to enclose the full file name and worksheet name.
- Then, Excel uses absolute references to identify the cell being referred to. This means that if you move (not copy) the contents of cell D6 in the Data worksheet, your formula will still work. The $ signs are used to denote an absolute reference (as opposed to a relative reference). Absolute and relative references are out of scope for this lesson, but you can read about them in this lesson.
Summary
Learning to use Excel formulas is one of the most important things you’ll learn to do with Excel. Hopefully this lesson has set you on the right path, and you’ll be creating spreadsheets with formulas of your own in no time at all. If you have any feedback or questions on this lesson, please comment below!