Tools for Information Literacy

Formulas

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What are formulas?

Formulas are mathematical statements that apply to a cell,
or, through vectors, to a range of cells.
They can also apply to cells in different worksheets or different workbooks.

The strength in spreadsheets is the ability to use vectors to cause one cell to affect another cell or cells

This Microsoft Getting Started with Formulas worksheet will be useful

What is a formula? terminology entering a formula order of operations edit other tools

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Terminology

Numeric values in a worksheet can be added, subtracted, multiplied or divided
by creating formulas

Use this example for formula demonstrations. All formulas start with the = sign, and are followed by cell addresses and mathematical operators.

= begins a formula. If the = sign is not present, formula entries are treated as text

(parentheses) are to establish precedent. The result is held as a subtotal for further calculations. Where parentheses are enclosed within parentheses, they are calculated from the inside set to the outside set.

cell reference is a location on the sheet containing a value to work with. Unless fixed by user input, all locations are vectors, relative to the location of the cell that contains the formula.

if you need to lock a formula reference to a specific location (or, said another way, to an absolute - not relative - cell reference), use the f4 key to append the $ sign to a cell reference to lock in a specific location

example:

• $A1 refers ab$olutely to column A but only relatively to row 1
  [row will vary]
• $A$1 refers ab$olutely to column A and ab$olutely to row 1
  [there is nothing relative about this reference]

arithmetic operators

• + addition
• - subtraction
• * multiplication
• / division
• ^ exponentiation

a numeric constant is a number that will remain the same until the value is changed in the future

Functions

are terms that describe built in formulas that perform specialized arithmetic

range reference is the starting and ending cells of a group of cells and enclosed in parentheses. They are separated by colons if the cells are contiguous, or with a comma if they are non-contiguous.

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Entering a Formula

To enter a formula in a cell, click on the cell, then transfer your attention to the formula bar

Click or type the = character, and then enter the formula. Remember to start all formulas and functions with the = sign.

Normally, formulas use cell references rather than numbers

• place the cell address of the cell that contains the number you want into the formula. That way, if the number changes, the formula remains correct.
• for example, =A1+B1 would add the numbers in cells A1 and B1 and put the answer wherever you entered this formula
• if you use cell addresses, you can change data later (e.g., data in B4), and then the number calculated by a formula will change automatically

However, you can use numbers in formulas

=D8*1.06
means
this formula equalsthe contents of D8multiplied by1.06

When using the formula bar

• you can point to the cell you want
• type an operator
• point to the next cell
• OR enter the formula using the cell reference addresses

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Order of Precedence & Operations

(parentheses)
the result is held as a subtotal for further calculations. Where parentheses are enclosed within parentheses, they are calculated from the inside set to the outside set.

^ exponentiation,
/ division or
* multiplication
are calculated in the sequence entered from left to right

formulas are calculated left to right and parentheses are used to distinguish order

using 15/3+2 for example:

• 15/3+2 = 7
• 15 divided by three = five, and five plus two = seven
• or (15/3) + 2 = (5)+2 = 7

but

• fifteen divided by the result of three plus two = fifteen divided by five = three
• or 15/ (3+2) = 15/ 5 = 3

+ addition or
- subtraction
are calculated in the sequence entered from left to right

functions are calculated separately and included in the result depending on the adjacent arithmetic operators

What is a formula? terminology entering a formula order of operations edit other tools

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Edit Formulas

click in cell with formula or in the formula box

The same is true in Excel for Mac

Techniques to Help Correct Errors in Data

Error Codes

• #### data is too wide for cell
• #N/A omitted a required argument in a function
• #REF the formula cannot find the cell included in the argument
• #VALUE the formula calls for a number or a value and the cell contains text

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Let the program work for you

to check for source of errors, use the Auditing Toolbar

The same is true in Excel for Mac

What is a formula? terminology entering a formula order of operations edit other tools

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