Confess something to me..
Well, if you selected Options 1 till 3, it’s a good thing you opened this email.
We think we know Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. but we really don’t.
Just because you touched it a little in the 5th grade, doesn’t mean you know it all.
Let’s begin with a plain simple question…
What is Excel?
Excel is a powerful tool that can help you perform a variety of tasks, from simple calculations to complex data analysis.
So, today I will tell you :
what are Excel Formulas and walk you through Basic Excel Formulas
what are functions, 5 basic functions and 3 ways to write them
What are Excel formulas, you ask?
Picture 1 Million Excel cells containing multiple columns with different subjects.
Excel formulas will assist you to make sense of those long complex cells and analyze the data for you.
What prompts a calculation in Excel
So, you are familiar with Addition (+), Subtraction (-), Multiplication (*), and Division (/). These are pretty simple.
However, in order to prompt a calculation in Excel you must begin with = sign!
Here's an example: =5+5
Functions in Excel
Functions are pre-built formulas that Excel provides to perform a specific task for the selected or entered values.
Once valid values and functions are entered in the correct format, Excel performs the calculation and displays the result in the cell where the formula was entered.
How to write Functions
Excel functions have a format that they must follow!
All functions have the following general structure:
=FunctionName(value1, value2, value3,...)
For example, to find the average of values in cells A1 to A5, the AVERAGE formula would be written in the following way: =AVERAGE(A1:A5)
Basic functions you should know
1. SUM
Recall the old days of being called at the board to solve a math problem
Wish we could just select the range of cells with the remaining slices and use the formula =SUM(B1:B4) to calculate the problem on the board.
2. AVERAGE
Let's say you're a coffee connoisseur and you want to know the average number of cups of coffee you drink per day.
Just keep a tally of your daily cups in a spreadsheet and use the AVERAGE function to find out.
Use the formula =AVERAGE(B1:B4) to calculate the average number of cups.
If the number is too high, you might want to consider switching to decaf!
3. COUNT
Have you ever wondered how many times you've hit the snooze button on your alarm clock?
Well, now you can find out using the COUNT function!
Just create a spreadsheet with a column for each day and mark whether or not you hit snooze.
Then use the formula =COUNT(B1:B5) to count how many times you hit snooze that week.
If the number is too high, you might want to reconsider your sleeping habits!
4. MAX and MIN
Let's say you're a competitive eater and you want to know the maximum and minimum amount of samosas you've eaten in a single competition.
Just create a spreadsheet with a column for each competition and use the MAX and MIN functions to find out.
Use the formula =MAX(A1:A5) to find the most samosa you've eaten and =MIN(A1:A5) to find the least.
Just be sure to have some antacids handy! Or the rasmi 7up at every desi household?
5. IF
Imagine you're a superhero trying to decide whether or not to save someone in distress.
Just use the IF function to help you make the decision!
If the person in distress is a villain, you might want to let them fend for themselves.
Use the formula =IF(A1="Villain", "Let them suffer!", "Save them!") to decide what to do. Just be sure to use your powers for good, not evil!
Because God forbid if the professor marking your paper turns out to be evil, he would =IF(B2<=60,"Fail","")
Entering Your Function
Excel provides multiple ways to insert formulas in your spreadsheet.
Here are three methods to insert Excel formulas:
Method 1: Directly Type the Function Name
If you already know the function name, you can type it directly into the cell where you would like to see the result displayed, led by an equal sign. For example:
=SUM(A2:A10)
This method is most suitable for simple functions with few arguments.
Method 2: Use the Insert Function Button
Another way to insert a formula is to use the Insert Function button to the left of the Formula Bar.
This opens the 'Insert Function' dialog box where you can search for or select a function from a category.
This method is ideal for more complex functions with several values, where you might not remember the name of the function.
Method 3: Use the Formulas Tab
You may also use the Formulas tab to select a function by category.
This is useful when you're not sure where to find the function you need.
The Formulas tab also provides a list of the most recently used functions for easy access.
Methods 2 and 3 give a preview of the result while the values or cell references are being entered.
This helps ensure that the formula is constructed correctly, and saves time that might be spent correcting mistakes.
Note: Excel follows the PEMDAS (Parentheses – Exponents – Multiplication – Division – Addition – Subtraction) order of operations rule. This means that values within parentheses will be processed first, followed by exponents, and so on.
Conclusion
Functions can save you a lot of time and effort in your Excel work.
They're especially useful for repetitive tasks or when dealing with large amounts of data.
Whether you're calculating a budget, analyzing data, or just trying to keep track of your to-do list, functions can help you do it faster and more efficiently.
So, go ahead and give them a try,
you might just be amazed at what you can do!
Until then,
Zain and Hafsa from Team Inspired Analyst - signing off!
Sir kindly write some advanced techniques for spreadsheets.