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Basic Formulas

Every formula starts with =. + − * / operators. Point at cells instead of retyping values.

Why Formulas Beat a Calculator

Retyping 12500 and 12800 breaks when Q1 changes. =B2+C2 updates automatically — that is the point of a spreadsheet. English's half-year check on NorthgateBudget.xlsx needs Q1 + Q2. One formula in column F beats a calculator every term. A formula is a calculation written in a cell, starting with = . The formula bar shows the full formula; the cell shows the answer .

Excel treats text starting with = as a calculation. Without =, Excel stores plain text. Wrong: B2+C2 — shows as text in the cell. Right: =B2+C2 — adds the two cells. Click a result cell — the formula bar shows the formula; the cell shows the answer . If you type B2+C2 without =, Excel stores it as text. No calculation runs — the half-year total looks like a label. Start every formula with = so Excel knows to calculate. If you type =12500+12800 instead of =B2+C2, English's Q1 rises to 13000 next term — your total stays wrong until you edit the formula. Point at B2 and C2 — click them while typing after = and + if you prefer.

On Budgets, click F1 and type H1 Total (half-year check). Click F2 . Type =B2+C2 and press Enter . Expected result: F2 shows 25300 — the sum of Q1 (12500) and Q2 (12800) for English. Click F2 again. The formula bar shows =B2+C2 . You will replace this with a full-year SUM in the next lesson. This step practises = and + . Example: To see quarter-on-quarter change without SUM: =E4-D4 for Science. With Q4 19000 and Q3 18200, the formula returns 800 — a quick sanity check before the governor pack.

Excel calculates = formulas immediately. If the cell shows the formula text, you forgot = or the cell is formatted as Text. Check the formula bar . If it shows =B2+C2 but the cell displays the same text, the cell may be formatted as Text. Change format to General, click the cell, press F2, and press Enter to recalculate.

Practice

Which entry is a valid formula?

Why Formulas Beat a Calculator

Retyping 12500 and 12800 breaks when Q1 changes. =B2+C2 updates automatically — that is the point of a spreadsheet. English's half-year check on NorthgateBudget.xlsx needs Q1 + Q2. One formula in column F beats a calculator every term. A formula is a calculation written in a cell, starting with = . The formula bar shows the full formula; the cell shows the answer .

Formulas Start with =

Excel treats text starting with = as a calculation. Without =, Excel stores plain text. Wrong: B2+C2 — shows as text in the cell. Right: =B2+C2 — adds the two cells. Click a result cell — the formula bar shows the formula; the cell shows the answer . If you type B2+C2 without =, Excel stores it as text. No calculation runs — the half-year total looks like a label. Start every formula with = so Excel knows to calculate. If you type =12500+12800 instead of =B2+C2, English's Q1 rises to 13000 next term — your total stays wrong until you edit the formula. Point at B2 and C2 — click them while typing after = and + if you prefer.

Operators

Add Q1 and Q2 for English

On Budgets, click F1 and type H1 Total (half-year check). Click F2 . Type =B2+C2 and press Enter . Expected result: F2 shows 25300 — the sum of Q1 (12500) and Q2 (12800) for English. Click F2 again. The formula bar shows =B2+C2 . You will replace this with a full-year SUM in the next lesson. This step practises = and + . Example: To see quarter-on-quarter change without SUM: =E4-D4 for Science. With Q4 19000 and Q3 18200, the formula returns 800 — a quick sanity check before the governor pack.

When the Cell Shows Text Instead of a Result

Excel calculates = formulas immediately. If the cell shows the formula text, you forgot = or the cell is formatted as Text. Check the formula bar . If it shows =B2+C2 but the cell displays the same text, the cell may be formatted as Text. Change format to General, click the cell, press F2, and press Enter to recalculate.

Practice

Which entry is a valid formula?