Calculations

Module 4.2
P 226 - 236
1
Contents
• Functions
• Interpretation of error indic
ators
• Test and improve your kno
wledge

2
The ROUND function
• . The ROUND function can be used to round numbers to a
specified number of decimal places after the nearest decimal
point.

Number Example of function Result Description

Rounds a number to the nearest

92.6 =ROUND(A1,0) 93
integer.

Rounds a number to 1 decimal

78.8987 =ROUND(A2,1) 78.9
place.

Rounds a number to 2 decimal

65.345 =ROUND(A3,2) 65.35
places.
3
Rounds a number to 3 decimal
68.5275 =ROUND(A4,3) 68.528
places.
ROUND function vs.
Increase/Decrease
decimal

ROUND function Increase Decimal/

• True rounded number
Decrease Decimal
• Values will remain the
same
4
However, the values stored in the cells, and which are used for
calculations, will remain the same (even if they are displayed
differently).
Activity 1
P 227 5

1.2 CalculationOfMarks
The LARGE and SMALL functions
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.

6
Activity 2
P 227 7
2.2 ComputerGame
2.3 Competition
Functions which can count (1)
Function What the function does Example
=COUNT(range) Counts the number of cells =COUNT(A1:A10)
in a range which contain
numerical values
(numbers).
=COUNTA(range) Counts the number of cells =COUNTA(C1:C10)
in a range which contain
values (text or numeric),
i.e. cells which are not
empty.

8
 Functions which can count (2)
Function What the function does Example

=COUNTBLANK(range) Counts the number of =COUNTBLANK(B2:B12)

empty cells in a range.

=COUNTIF(range, Counts the number of =COUNTIF(A3:A10,10)

criterion) cells in a range that =COUNTIF(C3:C10,
meet a certain criterion. "Pretoria")
Such a criterion can be a =COUNTIF(B2:B10,">=70")
number, text or
expression, e.g. 10,
"Pretoria" or ">=70".

Note the use of quotation marks in the

COUNTIF function.
Note:

• The COUNTIF function is used to count the number of

grade 10 learners, which is the number of times the
value entered in B12 is found in the range C3:C10.
• When we copy this function down, the row numbers of
the range tested must not change. This is why we use
absolute referencing here.
10
Activity 3
P 229 3.1 Choir 11
.
 Other handy functions
Function What the function does Example
=RAND() Returns a random real =RAND()
number between 0 and 1,
e.g. 0.2342 or 0.985678.

=RANDBETWEEN Returns a random whole =RANDBETWEEN(1,100)

(bottom,top) number between the two
numbers you specify (both
values included).
=POWER(number, Raises a number to a =POWER(5,2)
power) power. In the example 5 is
raised to the power of 2, in
other words 52 = 5 x 5 = 25 12
Activity 4
P 229 4.2 Convert
4.3 ApplyRAND
13
Calculate the sum of certain cells

= SUMIF(range, criteria, sum_range)

• Range is the range of cells e.g. A2 to A12 (A2:A12) that is
tested to determine if any cells in it meet the criteria.
• Criteria determines which cells are added and may be
numbers, text or an expression.
• Sum_range are the actual cells that are added, if the
corresponding cells in the range meet the criteria.

14
 Calculate the sum of certain cells
Example
= SUMIF(B2:B6, 11, C2:C6)
• Tests the range B2:B6
• Criteria: the cell must contain the value 11.
• If the value of the corresponding cell in column B is 11, it must
be added.
The result of the SUMIF function in cell
C8 is R45.00
The cells that meet the criteria are B2, B4
and B5.

The values in the corresponding cells in

column C are R20.00 (C2), R10.00 (C4) and
R15.00 (C5), which add up to R45.00. 15
 TIP

Entering a SUMIF function is made easy using

the Insert Function command on the 16
Formulas tab.
Activity 5
P 231 5.1 SalesAgents 17
5.2 SalesFirstQuarter
5.3 OfficeExpenses
INTERPRETATION OF ERROR 18

INDICATORS
An error indicator always begins with a hash sign
(‘#’)
Error indicator Likely cause of error Possible solutions to fix the
error
#NULL! An operator, colon or comma Make sure that an operator,
has been left out, e.g. colon, or comma is entered
=D1 + D2 + D3 D4 where required..
=SUM(A1:A10 B1:B10)
=SUM(A1 A10)

Circular This error occurs when you A warning Circular Reference

Reference enter a function/formula that Warning displays. Change
contains a cell reference that is the function/formula to
the same as the current cell, ensure that there is no
e.g. if you key in the following reference to the same cell
formula in cell A1: = A1*2 where the function/formula
has been entered.
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Error messages in Excel
##### Column is not wide enough to display a
number stored in a cell.
Widen the column; Reduce the font size of the cell’s
contents; Use a different number format for the cell.

#VALUE! References are made to cells in the formula

where the data type cannot be used in a
calculation.
Check that the cell references, as well as any values
used within a function, are all of the correct type.
#DIV/0! Formula divides by zero. (Remember that a
blank cell is seen as zero.)
Change the devider to a number other than 0; Refer
to cells which contain values.
Error messages in Excel
#NAME? The function name is not recognised by
Excel e.g. AVARAGE in stead of AVERAGE
Check the spelling of the function name; Place text in
inverted commas

#REF! Cell reference in formula is no longer valid.

Use the Undo-option immediately after the message
is shown.

#NUM! Invalid numerical value in a function, e.g. the

square root of a negative number.
Ensure that numerical values are valid for the
calculations for which they are being used.
NOTE:
Help with error messages
Activity 6
P 232 24

6.1 ErrorIndicators
TEST AND IMPROVE YOUR 25

KNOWLEDGE
 Overview of module
Functions which
can count Sum of certain
COUNT cells
COUNTA SUMIF
COUNTBLANK
COUNTIF
Calculate the Nth
largest and Other handy functions
smallest RAND
LARGE
RANDBETWEEN
SMALL POWER

Using
Formatting vs. Functions
Rounding for calculations Interpreting
ROUND and analysing data error indicators
ROUNDUP 26
 Important terms and concepts

Rounding through Rounding using a

formatting function
• The value stored in the • The result stored in the
cell (and used for cell will be the true
calculations) will remain rounded number.
the same.

27
Tips and recommendations
• Always remember that the value displayed in a cell is not
necessarily the same as what is stored in the cell
• The ^ operator can be used instead of the POWER function -
=POWER(5,3) and =5^3 will return exactly the same answer.
• Use of absolute cell references for specifying the ranges in
COUNTIF and SUMIF functions is more efficient than using
relative cell references.
=COUNTIF(range, criterion)
= SUMIF(range, criteria, sum_range)

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Written module activity
P 234 - 235 29
Practical module
activity
P 236 30