Essential functions
Functions
Perform calculations
Excel is a powerful tool that allows you to perform calculations, organize data, and analyze information. To start harnessing the potential of Excel, it’s essential to learn some basic formulas. In this lesson, we will explore the fundamental formulas that every beginner should know.
Sum
How it works
Let’s first recap the sum formula
The SUM formula is used to add up a range of numbers. It is a short and simplified form of adding numbers.
We are going to refresh our memory on how to use the sum formula. Let’s go ahead and calculate the Total chocolate sold in the shaded columns. Then calculate the Total sold by adding all of Monday to Friday’s sales using the SUM formula. We have done the Aero example for you.
Average
How it works
The AVERAGE formula calculates the average of a range of numbers. It is simply the short form of adding all the numbers and dividing by how many they are.
We are going to put the average function into practice. Let’s find out on average how many chocolate Emily sold on each day. We have done the first chocolate – Aero – as an example.
Min And Max
How it works
The MAX formula finds the highest value in a range of numbers, while the MIN formula finds the lowest value.
Calculate the minimum number of chocolates sold by Emily and Maximum number of chocolates for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and for the whole week. Do these calculations in the purple shaded cells at the bottom. We have done Monday as an example for you.
Count
How it works
The COUNT formula counts the number of cells in a range that contain numbers. It is written as “=COUNT(range)”.
- To use functions you need to start the with “=” sign
- Sum is used to perform addition
- Min get the smallest number and Max gets the biggest number
- Count get you the total number of data entered