Microsoft Excel 2010- Illustrated

Unit B:
Working with Formulas and
Functions
 Objectives
• Create a complex formula
• Insert a function
• Type a function
• Copy and move cell entries
• Understand relative and absolute cell
references

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Objectives
• Copy formulas with relative cell
references
• Copy formulas with absolute cell
references
• Round a value with a function

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Creating a Complex Formula
• A complex formula is an equation
that uses more than one type of
arithmetic operator
• Example: formula that uses both
addition and multiplication
• Arithmetic operations are performed
according to the order of precedence

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Creating a Complex Formula
Formula containing multiple arithmetic operators

Complex
formula

Mode
indicator

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Creating a Complex Formula
• Order of precedence in Excel
formulas
• Operations inside parentheses are
calculated first
• Exponents are calculated next
• Multiplication and division are
calculated next (from left to right)
• Addition and subtraction are calculated
next (from left to right)

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Inserting a Function
• A function is a predefined worksheet
formula that makes it easy to perform
a complex calculation
• Can be used by itself or within a
formula
• If used alone, begins with the formula
prefix (=)

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Inserting a Function
Expanded Function Arguments dialog box

Function

Insert
Function
button

Argument Description
and
argument
format

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Typing a Function
• A function can be typed manually into
a cell
• You must know the name and initial
characters of the function
• Can be faster than using the Insert
Function dialog box
• Experienced Excel users often prefer
this method

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Typing a Function
• While manually typing a function, it is
necessary to begin with the equal
sign (=)
• Once you type an equal sign, each
letter you type activates the
AutoComplete feature

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Typing a Function

MAX function in progress

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Copying and Moving Cell
Entries
• You can copy or move data within a
worksheet or between worksheets
using:
• Cut, Copy, and Paste buttons
• Fill handle in the lower-right corner of
the active cell
• Drag-and-drop feature
• Office Clipboard temporarily stores
information that you copy or cut
Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated
 Copying and Moving Cell
Entries
• Pasting an item from the Clipboard
• Only need to specify the upper-left cell
of the range where you want to paste
the selection

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Copying and Moving Cell
Entries
Copied data in Office Clipboard
Paste
button

Copy
button

Clipboard
launcher

Item in
Clipboard

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Understanding Relative and
Absolute Cell References
• Use a relative cell reference when
you want to preserve the relationship
to the formula location
• Calculations are performed based on
cell relationship
• When a formula is copied, the cell
reference changes to preserve the
relationship of the formula to the
referenced cells
• The Excel default
Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated
 Understanding Relative and
Absolute Cell References
Formulas containing relative references
Formula
containing relative
references

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Understanding Relative and
Absolute Cell References
• Use an absolute cell reference when
you want to preserve the exact cell
address in a formula
• Reference does not change even if the
formula is copied to another location
• Created by placing a dollar sign ($)
before both the column letter and the
row number for the cell’s address

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Understanding Relative and
Absolute Cell References
Formulas containing absolute and relative references

Relative
references Absolute
adjust references do
not adjust

Cell referenced
in
absolute
formulas

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Understanding Relative and
Absolute Cell References
• Using a mixed reference
• A mixed cell reference combines both
relative and absolute cell referencing
• Example: When you copy a formula, you
may want to change the row reference but
keep the column reference
• Created using the [F4] function key

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Copying Formulas with
Relative Cell References
• Reuse formulas you have created
• Use Copy and Paste commands or
the fill handle to copy formulas
• Copying a formula to a new cell
• Excel substitutes new cell references
so that the relationship of the cells to
the formula remains unchanged

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Copying Formulas with
Relative Cell References
Formula pasted in a range
Paste
button

Paste
Paste Options
button list button
arrow

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Copying Formulas with
Relative Cell References
• Auto Fill feature can be used for
filling cells with sequential text or
values
• Months of the year; days of the week;
or text plus a number (Quarter 1,
Quarter 2, etc.)
• Drag the fill handle to extend an
existing sequence

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Copying Formulas with
Absolute Cell References
• Apply absolute cell reference before
copying a formula if you want one or
more cell references to remain
unchanged in relation to the formula

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Copying Formulas with
Absolute Cell References
Absolute reference created in formula
Absolute cell
reference in Incorrect
formula values from
relative
referencing in
copied
formulas

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Rounding a Value with a
Function
• Cells containing financial data are
often easier to read if they contain
fewer decimals
• Use the ROUND function to round
down your results

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Rounding a Value with a
Function
ROUND function added to an existing formula

ROUND
function and
opening
parenthesis ScreenTip
inserted in indicates what
formula information is
needed

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Summary
• Create a complex formula
• Insert a function
• Type a function
• Copy and move cell entries
• Understand relative and absolute cell
references

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated

 Summary
• Copy formulas with relative cell
references
• Copy formulas with absolute cell
references
• Round a value with a function

Microsoft Office 2010-Illustrated