EXERCISE 3 - INTRODUCTION TO FORMULAE

A formula is an equation that looks at the data on your spreadsheet and analyses this to
display new information. You have already used AutoSum and now we will go through other
types of formulae.

In Excel to let the spreadsheet know you are entering a formula you must always begin with an
EQUALS sign =. If this is missing the spreadsheet will not calculate an answer.

Locate these following symbols on your keyboard.

+ is the symbol for addition

- is the symbol for subtraction

* is the symbol for multiplication

/ is the symbol for division

These are used in formulae.

The following is what we call a FUNCTION (like AutoSum) as we are asking the computer to
perform a specific function on a range of cells.

=SUM(Cell reference : Cell Reference)

This is used when you have a range of cells to add up. Rather than typing

=B5+B6+B7+B8+B9+B10+B11+B12

You type

=SUM(B5:B12)

This reads =SUM(From cell B5 to cell B12)

This is what the AutoSum puts in automatically for you but it is important to be able to
type it in yourself.

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 USING FORMULA TO ADD CELLS TOGETHER

• Click on New on the toolbar

• Type in the following figures in cells underneath one another

Start in cell A1 138

67

• In cell A3 type the = symbol

• Type in the cell reference that the number 138 is in [A1] then type the + symbol

• Type in the cell reference for 67 [A2] and press <Enter>

Your answer should be 205

The answer is what we call the CELL DISPLAY. Look at the formula bar which shows you
what you typed in =A1+A2. This is what is called the CELL CONTENT.

• Format the cell to Currency to 2 decimal places – OK.

Note that only the CELL DISPLAY has changed. Formatting has no effect on the CELL
CONTENT.

Find the following totals

Start in cell B3 54 Start in cell C2 90

123 166
? ?

• Save As: Addition

• Close File

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 USE FORMULA TO SUBTRACT TWO CELLS

• Click on New on the toolbar

Type in these figures underneath one another starting in cell B4

256
148

In the cell below the 148

type the = symbol

• Type in the cell reference for 256

• type the - the subtract symbol

• Type in the cell reference for 148 and press <Enter>

Look at the formula in the formula bar.

The cell display in B6 should be 108

Use the formula to subtract the following sets of numbers.

Start in cell C3 463 Start in cell D4 654

286 287
? ?

Your answers should be 177, and 367

• Save As: Subtraction

• File Close

EXERCISE 4 SPRINGDALE SPORTS CENTRE

This will give you practise using formulae

• Click on New Workbook button

• Save As Springdale Sports Centre

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• Type in the following information as shown. (See input details below)

A B C D
1 SPRINGDALE SPORTS CENTRE
2 Court 1 Court 2 Court 3
3 Daily Costs
4 Room Hire £25 £30 £35
5 Tuition Fees £50 £55 £60
6 Total Costs
7
8 Daily Income
9 Charges £125 £130 £155
10 Sundry Sales £12 £18 £24
11 Total Income
12
13 Profit
14

• Centre the main heading over cells A1 –D1 by highlighting the cells and then click Merge
And Centre button on the toolbar

• Bold, font size 16 the main heading [Click on the cell and then use the appropriate
buttons from the toolbar]

• Centre, font size 12, Court 1, Court 2 and Court 3

• Centre, font size 12, Daily Costs in cell A3

• Centre, font size 12, Daily Income in cell A8

• Format the numbers to £ currency. To 0 decimal places. [Format – Cells]

• Using a suitable formula calculate the Total Costs for Court 1 in B6

[= Room hire + Tuition Fees]

• Copy the formula in B6 across to C6 and D6

• Calculate the Total Income for Court 1 in B11

[=Charges + Sundry Sales]

• Copy the formula in B11 across to C11 and D11

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• Before going any further check your answers , if incorrect, re-do the formula in the
relevant cells

• Calculate the Profit for Court 1 in cell B13. Do this by subtracting the Total Cost from
the Total Income.

• Copy formula from B13 across to D13

• Click on Print Preview button

• Click on Save button

• Click Print button

• File Close

USING FORMULA TO MULTIPLY CELLS

In this set of examples you will use a formula to multiply cells together.

• Open a new file

Type in the following figures as shown:

Start in B1 241 9

• In cell D1 type the = sign to start the formula

• Type in the cell reference for the figure 241 - type * and then type in the cell
reference that refers to the figure 9.

• Press the <Enter> key

Your answer should be 2169

Start in cell F1 134

27
?
• Click in cell F3 and insert the formula to multiply the two numbers
• Save As: Multiplication.

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 USING FORMULA TO DIVIDE 2 CELLS

• Type in the following figures starting in cell A4

1200 50 ?

• Click in the cell to the right of 50 and type =

• Type in the cell reference for 1200 and type the divide sign /

• Type in the cell reference for 50 and press <Enter>

Your answer should be 24

Use a formula to divide the following figures, do these on the same screen, just move down
a cell or two

1000 25
3900 30
2700 90

• Insert header with your name, date and filename

• Print Preview

• Print

• Save

• Close
•

USING THE = SUM ( ) FUNCTION

The sum formula is used to add together a range of cells

• Click on New on toolbar

• Save As: type in Sum Exercise

• Type in the following as shown

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 A

1 25
2 135
3 7
4 45
5 63
6 ?

• Click in A6 where the total will appear and type the following function

=SUM(A1:A5)

A total should appear in A6 (should be 275)

If this is incorrect, try again

In the same way calculate the following:

A
10 55
11 262
12 120
13 7
14 85
15 109
16 ?

The answer should be 638 and the formula bar just above column headings should read
=SUM(A10:A16).

• Save

In the same way calculate the following:

C
10 43
11 214
12 4
13 76
14 185
15 432
16 ?

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The answer should be 954 and the formula bar just above column headings should read
=SUM(C10:C15).

• Save

DISPLAYING FORMULA

At present your spreadsheet does not show the formulae or functions you have used to
calculate your answers.

• Click on Tools
Options
View Tab
Formulas

Your formula will now show on the screen and the column width doubles in size

• Click on Print Preview icon on Toolbar

•
If the spreadsheet no longer fits onto one page in Portrait orientation you may need to
change it to Landscape.

• Click File
Page Setup
Click on Landscape
Click OK

• Click Close (to close Preview)

• File – Print - OK

Return Spreadsheet to Normal After Printing Formulae

• Tools – Options – View Tab – Take the tick out of Formulas

• Save

• File Close

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