Using Formulas and Functions

Purpose: Use this job aid to review ways to use basic formulas and functions in Excel 2013.
Arithmetic operators
Operator

Description

Addition

Subtraction

Multiplication

Division

Operator precedence in Excel 2013

Precedence

Operator

Description

: (colon)
1

, (comma)

Reference operators

(single space)
2

Negation (as in 5)

Percent

Exponentiation e.g. 3^2 = 3 to the power of 2

/ and *

Division and multiplication

and +

Subtraction and addition

&

Join two strings of text (concatenation)

=
<>
>
8

Comparison operators
<
>=
<=

Types of cell references

Comp

Description

onent
Relativ Allows the column and row reference in a formula to change depending on where the
e
formula is copied. An example is C4.
Absolu Allows the column and row reference in a formula to stay the same no matter where the
te
formula is copied. An example is $C$4.

Mixed

Allows either the column reference in a formula to stay the same, but the row reference to
change.
Examples are $C4 and C$4.
Enables you to reference the same cells from multiple worksheets.

3-D
An example is =SUM('Sales reps:Admin'!F13).
An entire group of cells that's assigned a single name. Depending on its scope, it can be
used only in the current worksheet or in all the worksheets in a workbook to reference the
Named
cells.
range
For example, you might name a range of cells containing sales values in dollars "Sales."
Basic functions
Component

Description

SUM

Adds the values in specified cells

AVERAGE

Calculates the average of the values in specified cells

COUNT

Counts the number of cells that contain values

MIN

Finds the smallest value in a set of cells

MAX

Finds the largest value in a set of cells

Text functions
Compone
nt

Description

RIGHT

Returns the furthest right characters from a text value

LEFT

Returns the furthest left characters from a text value

MID

Returns a specific number of characters from a starting point you specify within a
text string

TRIM

Removes any spaces from within text

UPPER

Changes text to uppercase

LOWER

Changes text to lowercase

CONCATE
Joins two or more text items into a single text item
NATE
Creating named ranges

If you want to...

Actions

Keyboa
rd
shortcu
ts

select the range of cells

Create a named range that can be
accessed from any worksheet in
type the name for the range in the Name box
the workbook
alongside the Formula Bar and press Enter
click the FORMULAS tab
Have each column or row in a
table named automatically

Ctrl+S
click Create from Selection in the Defined Names hift+F3
group
click the FORMULAS tab

click Define Name in the Defined Names group

Limit which worksheets a named
range can be referenced in, or add specify a name for the range
a comment to the name
choose the required scope from the Scope dropdown list, add a comment if desired to describe what
the range contains, and click OK
Course: Performing Calculations Using Functions in Excel 2013
Topic: Activity: Create Basic Formulas in Excel 2013