Excel Basics

1
Excel Basics

• Module 2
• Formulas

2
Overview

• What is a formula?
• Entering a formula
• Copying Pasting
• Absolute references
• Isolating assumptions

3
What is a formula?

• A calculation
• Most commonly uses numeric data
• Data may be literal numbers OR
• Values from other cells
• Excel performs calculation and displays result in
  the cell
• Results updated automatically if cell references
  changed

4
Entering a Formula

• Start with the equals sign ()
• Use numbers and/or cell references
• Use arithmetic operators
• addition
• - subtraction
• / division
• multiplication
• ( ) parentheses

5
Formula Examples

• Formula
• A1 B1
• A1 / B2
• B1 B2
• B1 B2 A1
• (B1 B2) A1
• A1 - B1 - B2

• Result
• 50
• 5
• 7
• 25
• 70
• 3

6
Copying Pasting

• Select cell, then
• Copy/Paste
• CTRL C copy
• CTRL V paste
• Fill Handle
• Move mouse over bottom right-hand corner of cell
• When it is a cross-hair (not an arrow)
• Drag to copy and paste formulas

7
Copying Pasting

• Copy formulas
• Down a column
• Across a row
• Cell references change

Rows numbers changed
8
Absolute References

• Allows cell reference to remain same as its
  copy/pasted
• Absolute Form A1
• Mixed Form A1 or A1
• Relative Form A1

9
Isolating Assumptions

• Set a separate area for assumed values
• May change during What If? Analysis
• Refer to these with absolute references

A10 F8 Where A10 is income and F8 is the
tax rate
10
Summary

• Enter formulas to calculate values
• Use cell references in formulas
• Use arithmetic operators
• Isolate assumptions use absolute references to
  the assumptions