You can browse through the individual sections below to learn more about specific formula elements.Ī reference identifies a cell or a range of cells on a worksheet, and tells Excel where to look for the values or data you want to use in a formula. With real-world examples and helpful visuals, you’ll be able to Sum, Count, Average, and Vlookup like a pro. If you’re new to Excel, or even if you have some experience with it, you can walk through Excel’s most common formulas in this tour. We've put together a Get started with Formulas workbook that you can download. Select the range of cells, and then type a closing parenthesis).

For example, =SUM for getting the total sales. Type an equal sign = and then type a function. To see a formula, select a cell, and it will appear in the formula bar.Įnter a formula that contains a built-in function When a formula is entered into a cell, it also appears in the Formula bar. The result of the calculation appears in the cell with the formula. Select the next cell, or type its address in the selected cell. Select a cell or type its address in the selected cell.Įnter an operator. Note: Formulas in Excel always begin with the equal sign.

Excel shortcut keys and formulas