🔵 Easy 15 minbeginner path
Your First Formulas: SUM, AVERAGE, and Basic Math
Formulas are what turn a spreadsheet from a fancy grid into a calculator. Every formula starts with an equals sign =.
Learning objectives
- Write formulas using +, -, *, /.
- Use SUM to add a range.
- Use AVERAGE to find the mean of a range.
Step-by-step
1. Start with =
Type =2+2 in any cell and press Enter. Excel returns 4. Every formula must begin with =.
2. Refer to cells, not numbers
Instead of =50+75, use =A1+A2 so the result updates when the inputs change. This is the real power of a spreadsheet.
3. SUM a range
=SUM(A1:A10) adds every value from A1 through A10. The colon means 'through'.
4. AVERAGE a range
=AVERAGE(B2:B20) computes the arithmetic mean, skipping empty cells.
Key takeaways
- Write formulas using +, -, *, /.
- Use SUM to add a range.
- Use AVERAGE to find the mean of a range.
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