Entering Formulas in Excel 2000
Formulas are used to perform numeric calculation such as adding, multiplying, averaging etc. To start any formula in an Excel's worksheet cell you must stat the data by typing an equal sign '='. This tells Excel that you wish to enter the details of a formula and not to treat the remaining data as text or numeric.

• Small cell before large cell for % or divide
• =Sum (above or left) adds
• Cell - cell to subtract
• Cell * cell to multiply

Note: If you are entering numbers and after Excel calculates the figures and the cell is not wide enough to take the whole number Excel will fill the cell with star characters to indicate the presence of data which cannot fit into the current column width. - We deal with how to adjust column width later in programme.

Try this to see if you have got the hang of it.

• Select cell A2 and type in 40
• Select cell A3 and type in 10
• Select cell A4
• To add the two cells together Type in =A2 + A3.
• Click on tick on formulae bar or press 'enter key' Answer should be 50
• To subtract the contents of the two cells Type in =A2 - A3
• Click on tick on formulae bar or press 'enter key' Answers should be 30
• To multiply the contents of the two cells Type in =A2*A3.
• Click on tick on formulae bar or press 'enter key' Answers should be 400
• To divide the contents of the two cells Type in = A2/A3.
• Click on tick on formulae bar or press 'enter key' Answers should be 4
• Alternatively you could have typed =
• Clicked on cell A2 or arrow key to A2 then Typed +
• Clicked on cell A3 or arrow key to A3
• Click on tick on formulae bar or press the 'enter key' on the keyboard.

This is another one you can try as this method reduces the possibility of making mistakes when typing cell addresses manually.

• Type in 10 in cell C3
• 20 in cell C4
• 10 in cell C5
• 50 in cell C6
• 30 in cell C7
• 90 in cell C8
• 60 in cell C9
• 40 in cell C10
• 30 in cell C11
• To add any range of cells click on or arrow key to the next cell - in this case C12
• Type =Sum (C3: C11)
• Click on tick on formulae bar or press the 'enter key' on the keyboard.