answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

A formula in Excel must start with the = symbol. The asterisk (*) is used for the multiplication symbol and the forward slash (/) is used for division, so =12*2 would give the result 24 and =12/2 would give the result 6. =2+6*12 would give the result 74, NOT 96, because multiplication and division are calculated before addition and subtraction.

You are more likely to want to perform calculations that use values that have already been entered into worksheet cells. Imagine that cell C11 contains the number of hours worked on a particular job and cell C12 contains the hourly rate of pay. You want to calculate how much is owed for work on that project in cell D12, so in that cell you would enter the formula =C11*C12.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

Formulas are used in Excell to make repetitive calculations. It could be as simple as adding a column of numbers or as complicated as taking a number of variables and performing a series of complex calculations. By using a formula, the calculations remain accurate every time one of the cell values is changed. You can also use the formulas to quickly prepare a large spreadsheet, such as a mortgage amortization schedule, by simply entering three numbers: the principal, interest rate and term of the loan. This could produce a month-by-month detail of interest and principal payments, with annual sub-totals - that would be 360 months for a 30 year loan completed in just seconds!

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

7y ago

There is no simple answer to that in one way, in that there is no limit to the amount of formulas you could come up with. On a simpler level, the first thing to know is that all formulas must start with the equals sign. There are hundreds of functions you can use and you can do very complex formulas and very simple ones. Here are a few instructions to create a few simple ones.

Put any number you want into cell A1. Then put any number you want into cell A2. Then in cell A3 type:

=A1+A2

That will add the two numbers you entered and put the total in A3. If you change the two numbers, the formula will always add them up and give you the correct answer. If you change the + to a - or / or * you will get a subtraction formula, a division formula or a multiplication formula.

The formula in A3 cannot mention A3 in it. That is another rule of formulas. A formula in a cell can never refer directly to the cell itself, otherwise you get what we call a circular error.

Excel has lots of functions, which are sort of pre-designed formulas that you can do to do things quicker. This time put in numbers into all the cells from B1 down to B10. Then in B11 type:

=Sum(B1:B10)

It will add up all the values from B1 through to B10 and put the total in B11. If you change the word Sum to Average and leave the rest of the formula as it is, it will give you an average of all the figures from B1 to B10. Changing it to Max will give you the highest number in those cells and changing it to Min will give you the lowest number.

You can, when typing in certain cells, go to the text box at the top and enter certain codes for the type of formula you want. You can also include other squares (like, A1 added by A4 equals). There are also buttons in the menu or ribbons at the top of the program that can do formula actions to cells that are highlighted.
Microsofts Technet forum provides the answer on how Excel formulas can be inserted in an Excel spreadsheet. There is also a good example in their Office forum too.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

It depends on the formula you choose. If you have autocalculate turned on (default setting) you will not need to do anything after you enter the formula; Excel will calculate automatically any time related cell values change.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Calculations are performed by formulas, so a formula that performs a calculation is a formula. There is no special name for them. There are built-in formulas, known as functions, but it is not just functions that can perform calculations, so it would be wrong to say functions. Functions can be all of or part of a formula.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

You use formula and functions in cells to do so. All formulas must begin with the equals sign. So in a cell you could type something like

=10+15

Normally you would actually put the values into cells and use the cell references in the formula. So if you had the 10 in cell A5 and the 15 in cell A6, then your formula in another cell would be:

=A5+A6

Excel also provides many functions for doing math and other things like trigonometry, statistics, financial calculations and many others. So a spreadsheet is a very powerful form of calculator, much more powerful than a normal calculator and capable of doing other things, like producing graphs, which a calculator cannot do.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

All formulas begin with the equal sign (=). To create a formula, just type the formula in the cell you want to display the results. An example of a formula is =A1*A2

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

7y ago

Delete the current formula and then use the Auto Sum to put in the sum formula.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

by entering formulas or functions (e.g. =3+4 will return the result of 7).

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How do you change formula to calculate sum in Excel?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What formula is used to calculate quantity?

You can calculate quantity in Excel with the SUM function.


What happens when you change a number within a sum formula in Microsoft Excel?

It can change a total that the formula results in.


What is the Excel formula to calculate the total of values in cells d7 through e20?

=SUM(D7:E20)


To calculate the sum of all the cells from E1 to E11 you would write the following formula in excel?

In another cell, you would type in =SUM(E1:E11)


What do you need in a excel cell to calculate a sum?

You need a formula. That formula can use the Sum function or it could use the plus sign, or several plus signs and even several Sum functions. Primarily it is the Sum function and the plus sign that is used for sums.


Why sum format in excel does not detect cell change?

I need more detail in order to fully answer your question. Are you sure the sum formula includes the cells that you are changing?


How do you display Sales Amt on Excel 2013?

You would calculate it using the Sum function. It will depend on what cells your values are in as to what form the actual formula will take.


A calculation used in excell?

Calculate means Excel will evaluate formulas and functions to display the result. You can turn calculate to manual or auto. When it is on auto, everything is updated in real time. Manual will update when you open Excel or requires to you click the calculate button every time you want to see results.


What are some examples of Excel formulas?

formula's of excel =sum(+_/*) =count(if) =today() =now() by' (rubab)


Which formula in excel can i use to find the total cost of items?

The "Sum" formula works best.


What is an ict formula?

an ict formula is something that can caluculate a sum faster than usuall, it will work out the sum ,, and the software that is used is Microsoft excel.


What is the sum of the fist 40 even numbers?

You can use the formula for the sum of an arithmetic series to calculate that quickly. (Of course, you can also type the numbers into Excel, and get the sum - but that doesn't scale well - e.g., it won't work well if you are then asked, for instance, to get the sum of the first million even numbers.)