INLS161-001 Spring 2024

Tools for Information Literacy

Formulas

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.

Dilbert cartoon, 20070808, by Scott Adams

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

Terminology

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

[image of a formula with descriptive labels] 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 $ sign to a cell reference to lock in a specific location

example:

arithmetic operators

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.

Entering a Formula

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

[MSExcel 2013 formulas can be entered in two locations]

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

However, you can use numbers in formulas

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

When using the formula bar

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.

+ addition,
- subtraction,
^ 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:

but

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

Edit Formulas

click in cell with formula or in the formula box

[MSExcel 2013 places to enter formulas]

The same is true in Excel for Mac

[MSExcel 2013 formulas can be entered in two locations]

Techniques to Help Correct Errors in Data

Error Codes

Let the program work for you

to check for source of errors, use the Auditing Toolbar

[MSExcel 2007+ formula auditing tools]

The same is true in Excel for Mac

[MSExcel 2013 formulas auditing tools]

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