Excel Introduction to Formulas and Functions

Learning Objectives

• To discuss values in Excel.
• To analyze Excel referencing.
• To inspect Excel formulas.
• To investigate Excel functions.

Course Description

Excel is a spreadsheet program that allows you to store, organize, and analyze information. 

It is a spreadsheet program, which contains a number of columns and rows, where each intersection of a column and a row is a “cell.” Each cell contains one point of data or one piece of information. 

In a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, values can refer to text, dates, numbers, or Boolean data. The type of the value depends on the data to which it's referring.

Before spreadsheets software was invented, the term "value" in relation to a spreadsheet meant only numeric data. In the case of digital spreadsheets, like Microsoft Excel, the term "number data" is used to describe numeric data instead.

A cell reference in Excel refers to the value of a different cell or cell range on the current worksheet or a different worksheet within the spreadsheet. A cell reference can be used as a variable in a formula.

An important feature of the Excel spreadsheet program is that it allows you to create formulas that will automatically calculate results. Without formulas, a spreadsheet is not much more than a large table for displaying text.

A function in Excel is a preset formula that helps perform mathematical, statistical, and logical operations. Once you are familiar with the function you want to use, all you have to do is enter an equal sign (=) in the cell, followed by the name of the function and the cell range it applies to.

Excel includes many common functions that can be used to quickly find the sum, average, count, maximum value, and minimum value for a range of cells. To use functions correctly, you'll need to understand the different parts of a function and how to create arguments to calculate values and cell references.

A Formula is an equation designed by a user in Excel, while a Function is a predefined calculation in the spreadsheet application.

This CPE webinar helps you to understand Excel its values, referencing, formulas, and functions.

Overview

• Creating title for the spread sheet

  2 mins
• Difference of entering numeric values versus text values

  6 mins
• Using technique of cell referencing in Excel

  15 mins
• Different types of cell references

  24 mins
• Basis of using Excel functions

  31 mins
• Excel trying to be helpful will green triangle sign

  36 mins
• using MAX formula

  43 mins
• Excel Function for counting number of cells with numeric value and any value

  48 mins