COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

TECHNOLOGY
MRS N SABAN
MICROSOFT EXCEL
LEARNER NOTES:FUNCTIONS IN EXCEL

Basic functions
Name of function What the function Example
does
SUM Calculates the sum or =SUM(B2:E2)
total
AVERAGE Calculates the =AVERAGE(A2:A7)
average value
MIN Calculates the =MIN(B2:B10)
minimum value
MAX Calculates the =MAX(C2:C12)
maximum value

Functions that can count:

Name of function What the function Example
does
COUNT Counts the number of =COUNT(B2:B20)
cells in a range that
contain NUMBERS
(including dates)
COUNTA Counts the number of =COUNTA(C1:C100)
cells in a range that
contains values (text
or numbers)
COUNTBLANK Counts the number of =COUNTBLANK(A1:A1
empty cells in a range. 0)
COUNTIF Function:
Counts the number of cells that comply with a specific criterion =COUNTIF(range,criteria)
Cell range, e.g. C3:C7
Example
=COUNTIF(C3:C7,">5")
Criteria can be numbers, text or an expression, e.g. 12, "Pretoria" or
“'>=70”

Other useful functions:

Name of function What the function Example
does
RAND Returns a random =RAND(
number (fraction)
between 0 and 1. E.g.
0,123
RANDBETWEEN Returns a random =RANDBETWEEN
WHOLE number (1,100)
between the two
numbers you specify
(endpoints included.
MODE Returns the value that =MODE(A2:A15)
occurs
MOST frequently in a
range.
MEDIAN Returns the number in =MEDIAN(A2:A15)
the
MIDDLE of a set of
sorted numbers. If
there's an even set of
numbers, the average
of the middle two
numbers is
determined.
 determined.
TODAY Returns the current =TODAY()
date.
NOW Returns the current =NOW)
date AN D time.

The ROUND function:

Name of function What the function Example
does
ROUND Rounds numbers to a =ROUND(A1,0)
specified number of =ROUND(A1,2)
decimal places
ROUNDUP Rounds a number to =ROUNDUP(4.2,0)
the nearest integer =5
upwards.

The LARGE and SMALL function:

Name of function What the function Example
does
=LARGE(range,N) Determines the Nth =LARGE(A2:A30,2)
largest number of all
the values in the
range.
=SMALL(range,N) Determines the Nth =SMALL(B1:B100,3)
smallest number of all
the values in the
range.

Other useful functions:

Name of function What the function Example
does
POWER Raises a number to a =POWER(5,2)
power. In the
examples is raised to
 =POWER(5,2)
power. In the
examples is raised to
the power of 2, in
other words
52=5x5=25
=RAND()*10 Returns a random real
number between 0
and 10

Calculate the SUM of certain cells:

Name of function What the function Example
does
SUMIF Adds the actual value =SUMIF(B2:B6,11,C2:
of cells that contain C6)
certain criteria
=SUMIF(range,criteria,
sum_range)
RANGE is the range of CRITERIA determines SUM_RANGE are the
cells e.g which cells are added actual cells that are
A2:A12 and may be numbers, added, if
text or an expression corresponding cells in
range meet criteria.

The IF function
Name of function What the function Example
does
IF Allocates a value to a =IF(D2>5,"Bonus",
cell according to the "No bonus")
result of the
condition(s) specified.
=IF(condition, Value
_if_true,
Value_if_false)
_if_true,
Value_if_false)
CONDITION that is VALUE_IF_TRUE VALUE_IF_FALSE
tested. answer will the value that will be the value that will be
always be true or placed in the cell if the placed in the cell if the
false) condition IS met condition IS NOT
met
Any expression that The value can be a
has a result of true or number, cell
false. The operators reference, formula/
are： =， >， >=， function or a text
<，<= and <>， and value.
are used with A text value is always
constant values (text placed I double
or number), formulas inverted commas.
or cell references.

The rounding and truncating of numbers:

Name of function What the function Example
does
ROUNDDOWN Rounds a number =ROUNDDOWN(2.78,
down to N places after 1)
the decimal point =2.7
INT Rounds a number =INT(24.7)
down to the nearest =24
whole number
TRUNC Removes the decimal =TRUNC(21.73,1)
part of a number to N =21.7
places after the
decimal point.
Unlike INT, TRUNC
does not round the
remaining decimal
 does not round the
remaining decimal
places or whole
numbers up or down.

The NESTED IF function:

What the function does
Assigns a value to a cell depending on the result of the condition that is specified.
EXAMPLE
If there are 3 conditions, you will have 2 IF functions
= IF(Condition, Value _if_true, IF(Condition, Value_if_true, Value_if _false))
Value_if_false

The VLOOKUP function:

What the function does

Example
=VLOOKUP(Lookup_value, Table_array, Col _index_num, Range_lookup)

The value you want to search for

The table where you search for the answer.
The column number in the table where the answer is.
False for exact value
True for closest match

More functions:
Text functions:
Name of function What the function Example
does
LEN Determines the = LEN(A3)
number of characters
in a string
CONCATENATE Combines multiple =CONCATENATE(strin
strings into a single g1,string2,...)
string
UPPER Converts all the letters =UPPER(B4)
in a string to upper
case
 =UPPER(B4)
in a string to upper
case
LOWER Converts all the letters =LOWER(C1)
in a string to lower
case
LEFT(string, N) Extracts the left N =LEFT(D9,4)
characters of a string
RIGHT(string, N) Extracts the right N =RIGHT(A8,5)
characters of a string
MID(string, M,N) Extracts N characters =MID(B6,5,3)
from the "start at the 5
M" position in a string character and count
3"
Strydom
FIND (substring, Returns the position =FIND(" ",A4)
string) of a substring within a To find the space in
string the cell
VALUE Converts a string that =VALUE(E5)
represents a 072 will be converted
numerical value to a to 72
number.
String can be a
number, date. or time
value that has been
formatted as text.