Beginner’s Blueprint: Navigating Basic Excel Formulas and Functions ??

Objectives

In this lab, you'll learn to perform some fundamental Excel functions.

Parts Covered

1. Basic Excel Formulas

2. Basic Excel Functions

3. Number Formatting

Required Resources (A mobile device or PC/laptop with an internet connection & Microsoft Excel)

Note: The steps to format and manipulate data in Excel may vary between platforms and versions. These instructions are based on the free version of Excel available from Office.com and may need to be adjusted according to your platform, software, or version.

Introduction

This lab will introduce you to the essential skills of Microsoft Excel, including basic formulas, functions, and number formatting.

Instructions

Part 1: Basic Excel Formulas:

Excel allows you to perform calculations using formulas and functions. Formulas are expressions that operate on the values in a cell or range of cells, while functions are predefined formulas built into Excel.

Step 1: Open a Blank Workbook

- If using the free version of Excel, log into Office.com, click on Excel, and then click on "New blank workbook."

Step 2: Typing a Formula Inside a Cell

- Excel formulas begin with an equal “=” sign.

- Click on cell A1, type =1+1, and press Enter. Cell A1 will display the result, 2.

- In cell A2, enter =4-2. In cell A3, enter =2*4. In cell A4, enter =6/2.

Enter the following values in the respective cells: Cell A2 = 4,B2 = 2,A3 = 4,B3 = 2,A4 = 4,B4 = 2

In C2 enter the formula =?A2-B2 In C3 enter the formula =?A3*B3 In C4 enter the formula =?A4/B4

Step 3: Using Cell References in a Formula

- Delete the formulas from cells A1 through A4.

- Enter the value 4 in cell A1 and 2 in cell B1.

- In cell C1, enter =A1+B1 and press Enter. Cell C1 will show 6.

Step 4: Add a New Column A

- Click on Column A, then click the Insert button in the Cells group to add a new column.

- In cell A1, enter “Addition”, A2 “Subtraction”, A3 “Multiplication”, and A4 “Division”.

Step 5: Add a New Row 1

- Select Row 1 and click the Insert button in the Cells group to add a new row.

- Enter the following headers: A1 “Math_Operation”, B1 “Variable A”, C1 “Variable B”, D1 “Result”.

- Select Row 1 and press CTRL+B to bold the text.

Step 6: Rename the Worksheet

- Right-click "Sheet1" at the bottom left and select Rename. Title the worksheet “Formulas.”

Part 2: Basic Excel Functions:

Excel has many built-in functions for performing simple and complex calculations. The five basic functions we'll cover are Sum, Average, Count, Max, and Min.

Sum: adds the numeric values in the referenced cells

Average: averages the numeric values in the referenced cells

Count Numbers: counts how many referenced cells there are

Max: returns the highest numeric value in the set of referenced cells

Min: returns the lowest numeric value in the set of referenced cells

Step 1: Add a New Worksheet

- Click the plus “+” button to add a new worksheet.

- Right-click the new Sheet2 and rename it “Functions.”

Step 2: Explore the Excel Function Library

- Click on the Formulas tab to view the Function Library group.

- Click the dropdown arrow under the AutoSum Function to see basic functions: Sum, Average, Count Numbers, Max, and Min.

Step 3: Using the SUM function

- Enter values 10, 7, 5, 9, and 12 in cells A1 through A5.

- Select cell A6, click the AutoSum button, and choose Sum to add these values.

Step 4: Using the Average Function

- Enter the same values in cells B2 through B6.

- Select cell B7, click the AutoSum button, and choose Average to find the average.

Step 5: Using the COUNT Function

- Copy values from B2 through B6 to cells C2 through C6.

- Select cell C7, click the AutoSum button, and choose Count to count the cells.

Step 6: Using the MIN and MAX Functions

- Copy the values to cells D2 through D6 and E2 through E6.

- In cell D7, apply the MIN function to find the lowest value.

- In cell E7, apply the MAX function to find the highest value.

Step 7: Apply Formatting Enhancements

- Boldface the text in the column headings and center justify.

- Underline the values in row 6 and bold the number values in row 7.

Part 3: Number Formatting

Excel offers several formatting options for cells that contain numbers, such as currencies, percentages, decimals, and dates.

Step 1: Add a New Worksheet

- Click the plus “+” button to add a new worksheet.

- Right-click the new Sheet 3 and rename it “Numbers”.

Step 2: Explore the Number Formats

- Right-click on any cell, select Number Format (or Format Cells for paid versions) and explore the different number format categories.

Step 3: Applying Number Formats

- Enter the specified values, apply different formats (currency, percentage), and perform calculations to display results.

Step 4: Save Your Workbook and Exit Excel

- Save your workbook as “Basic Concepts” and exit Excel.

One More Example for You All with Sample Data :

Conclusion

By completing this lab, you've gained a foundational understanding of using Excel for basic calculations, applying functions, and formatting numbers. These skills are essential for efficient data management and analysis. Happy Excel-ing! ??

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