Page 79 - TP_iPlus_V2.1_Class7
P. 79

i +  USING FORMULAS TO PERFORM CALCULATION

                 Functions are built-in formula in Excel used to perform  both  arithmetic  and  non-arithmetic
                 tasks. Excel contains more than  400 built-in functions that  can  be applied directly  or  as
                 part  of a formula. A function consists  of a 'Name' and  'Arguments'.  For example, a formula
                 such as A6=A1+A2+A3+A4+A5 can be simplified using the SUM function with a cell range:
                 A6=SUM(A1:A5). The 'Name' refers to the function, indicating the type of operation, while the
                 'Arguments' specify the values or range of cells on which the operation is applied, enclosed
                 within parentheses (i.e., the Name represents the function, and the Arguments represent the
                 data on which the function operates).
                 To show how formulas work, we'll begin with a simple exercise by selecting blank cell A1.
                 Then type = 5 + 5, and press the Enter key. After you press the Enter key, Excel performs the
                 calculation and display the result as 10 in cell A1.
                 Enter some more formulas in other cells and see what results are shown by Excel.

                     1. =8 – 5                2. =8 * 5                  3. =8/5                  4. =8 ^ 5
                   The results will be 3, 40, 1.6, and 32768, respectively. Some formulas based on the BEDMAS rule
                 can be entered as:

                     1. =(8 + 5) – (2 + 3) ^ 2             2. =(9/3) * (4 ^ 2) – 5

                    Info Byte
                     Excel follows the BEDMAS rule for doing mathematical calculations, where B stands for
                     Brackets, E for Exponentiation, D for Division, M for Multiplication, A for Addition, and S
                     for Subtraction.


                 You can also use cell addresses to perform calculations in the following way:
                 Notice  that when  cell C1 is selected,  the
                 Formula bar shows the formula you just typed.
                 You can also calculate the sum  of adjacent
                 cells by pressing the Alt+= keys together after
                 selecting the cells.
                 •  What appears in the cell is the result.

                 •  What appears in the formula bar  is the
                    formula, which is used to get the result.

                 The elements of a formula are:
                 •  References: A cell or a range of cells that you want to use in your calculation.
                 •  Operators: Symbols (+, -, *, /, ^, $, %, etc.) that specify the calculations to be performed.

                 •  Constants: Numbers or text values that do not change.


                  i +  ORDER OF OPERATION

                 When performing calculations using a formula, Excel follows certain rules of precedence:
                 •  Excel calculates expressions within parentheses ‘(‘ , ’)’ first.


                                                                                                                  77
                                                                                          More on Spreadsheets
   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84