Microsoft Excel is a useful spreadsheet creation tool that is very easy to use. Before you start to use the program, we recommend brushing up on some of Excel’s basic formulas. Here are a few helpful hints to make addition, multiplication, subtraction, division and more much easier in Excel.
Let’s say you have a series of numbers you want to work with. You can perform a variety of mathematical functions with these digits by clicking in an open cell and following these instructions:
Addition
1. Type in “=sum(”
2. Click on the first cell that you want to add
3. Press the “+” key
4. Click on the next cell in the series
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have selected all of the numbers of the equation
6. Press the “enter” key
7. The sum of the numbers will appear in the blank cell you initially selected
Averages
1. Type in “=average(”
2. Type in the name of the first cell in your series (ex: A1)
3. Press the “:” key
4. Type in the name of the last cell in the series (ex: A5)
5. Press the “enter” key
6. Excel will automatically find the average of the numbers from the first cell in the series to the last.
Count (Used to count the number of entries you have in a database)
1. Type in “=count(”
2. Type in the name of the first cell in your series
3. Press the “:” key
4. Type in the name of the last cell in the series
5. Press the “enter” key
6. Excel will automatically count the number of entries from the first cell in the series to the last.
Max (Used when you have a lot of numbers and want to find the biggest in the series)
1. Type in “=max(”
2. Type in the name of the first cell in your series
3. Press the “:” key
4. Type in the name of the last cell in the series
5. Press the “enter” key
6. Excel indicate the largest number in the series and place it in the blank cell you initially selected.
You can also create equations for numbers you have not yet entered into a cell. For example, say you wanted to add 1, 2 and 5. Click in a blank cell and type “=1+2+5” and then press “enter.” The program will add the numbers together for you. If you wanted to add the same numbers and then divide them by half, type “=(1+2+5)/2” and then press “enter.”
For more Microsoft Office tips, visit Be Your Own IT’s online support forum and YouTube channel. Make sure to e-mail Jeremy from Be Your Own IT if you have a computer help question we haven’t addressed yet.
