Lesson 8: Using MS Excel Function
Objective
Identify common functions in MS Excel
Explain on how to use function
Enumerate the steps of the different ways in using functions
Description
Formulas in Excel are useful in performing various mathematical, statistical, and logical operations. You
can type in a formula or you can use Excel's preset formulas called functions. This lesson will guide you
on how to use functions in MS Excel.
Using Functions
Functions are built-in, special commands that incorporated into the formulas to perform
mathematical calculations. It is a predefined formula that is used for specific values in a particular
order. Function is used for quick tasks like finding the sum, count, average, maximum value, and
minimum values for a range of cells.
Excel 2007 contains a built-in list of worksheet functions, which are categorized to make it
easy to search for the ones you need. Excel has over 300 built-in functions divided into various
function categories.
A. Function Categories
1. Financial
2. Logical
3. Text
4. Date & Time
5. Lookup & Reference
6. Math & Trigonometry
7. Information
8. Database
9. Statistical
10. Engineering
11. Cube
B. Commonly used functions
1. SUM: Used to add the contents of selected cells.
2. AVERAGE: Used to determine the average value of the selected cells contents.
3. PRODUCT: The Product function provides a quick way to multiple numbers and returns the
product.
4. COUNT: Used to count how many numbers are in the list.
5. MAX: Used to return the maximum number from a list.
6. MIN: Used to return the minimum number from a list.
7. LEN: Returns the number of characters in a string text
8. ROUND: Used to round off numbers to a specified number of decimal points.
9. IF: Returns one value if a condition you specify evaluates to true and another value if it
evaluates to false
10. NOW: Returns the current date base on the system date of the computer.
C. To display all the available functions
a. Open a blank Excel workbook.
b. Click on the Formulas tab and within the Function Library group click on the Insert Function
icon.
c. From the Insert Function dialog box displayed, under Or select a category: section, select a
particular category function, the related functions will displayed.
D. Methods in using function
1. Type-in method
a. Select the cell into which the formula will be entered.
b. Insert an equal (=) sign to begin the formula. The formula toolbar buttons will appear.
c. Enter the name of the function [e.g. SUM], followed by an opening parenthesis [(], cell
range [e.g. E2:E5], and closing parenthesis [)].
d. Press Enter key.
2. Using the AutoSum
a. Select the range of cells you want to be computed. Be sure to include a blank cell at the
end of the range. This cell will display the computed value.
b. Click on the drop down arrow next to the AutoSum icon on the Editing ribbon.
c. Select a function you want to use from the list.
3. Using the Insert Function
a. Select the cell into which the computed value will be displayed.
b. Click on the Insert Function button on the formula bar. The Insert Function dialog box
will be displayed.
c. Select the function you want to use from the list then click OK button. The function
Arguments dialog box gets displayed.
d. Select the cell range you want to include in the computation.
e. Click OK button
