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How do I Create a Formula in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet?

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In this article, you will learn step by step, how to create a Formula in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet.

We will try to answer the above question, using a simple example.

 

Our Sample Excel Spreadsheet

To this end, let’s consider that we are working on the below Excel spreadsheet:

How do I Create a Formula in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet? - Article on {essentialDevTips.com}

 

As you can see in the above screenshot, our Excel spreadsheet has 3 columns with the names:  “Product Code“, “Jan Sales Qty” and “Feb Sales Qty“.

Within our example’s context, the “Jan Sales Qty” and “Feb Sales Qty” columns, represent the quantities of goods sold per product in January and February.

Now, what is requested from us to do in the Excel spreadsheet, is to apply 3 formulas, in order to calculate the totals of each month, as well as the grand total for both months.

 

Creating the Formula in our Excel Spreadsheet

So now, let’s create the required formulas, in order for our Excel spreadsheet to work as requested.

 

The formula for “Jan Sales Qty” total

In order to set the formula for the “Jan Sales Qty” total, we click in the relevant cell onto which we want to set the formula (that is cell B7 in our example), and then we enter the below formula:

=SUM(B2:B6)

The above formula, tells Excel to sum the values of all cells from B2 to B6, by using the SUM function in Excel.

After applying the formula, this is what we get in the B7 cell:

How do I Create a Formula in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet? - Article on {essentialDevTips.com}

 

As you can see, now the cell B7 has a value, and this value is the sum of all values between cells B2 up to B6, that is the quantities of goods sold for January.

The sum of these values is 100.

 

The formula for “Feb Sales Qty” total

Now, in order to set the formula for the “Feb Sales Qty” total, we click in the relevant cell onto which we want to set the formula (that is cell C7 in our example), and then we enter the below formula:

=SUM(C2:C6)

The above formula, tells Excel to sum the values of all cells from C2 to C6.

After applying the formula, this is what we get in the C7 cell:

How do I Create a Formula in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet? - Article on {essentialDevTips.com}

 

As you can see, now the cell B7 has a value, and this value is the sum of all values between cells C2 up to C6, that is the quantities of goods sold for February.

The sum of these values is 150.

 

The formula for Grand Total

Now, all is left for completing the implementation of our Excel spreadsheet, is to set the formula for the “Grand Total”, that is the sum of the totals for January and February.

To this end, for setting the formula, we first click in the relevant cell onto which we want to set the formula (that is cell B8 in our example), and then we enter the below formula:

=B7+C7

The above formula, tells Excel to sum the values of cells B7 and C7 (besides the add operator, you can also use the SUM function if you prefer).

After applying the formula, this is what we get in the B8 cell:

How do I Create a Formula in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet? - Article on {essentialDevTips.com}

 

As you can see, now the cell B8 has a value, and this value is the sum of values in cells B7 and C7, that is the grand total of goods quantities, sold in January and February.

The sum of these values is 250.

 

Concluding Remarks and Bonus Tip

As you can see in the above simple example, it is very easy to use formulas in your Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.

As a bonus tip, note that by clicking on the Fx icon in Excel, the formula wizard launches, which helps you step by step, to apply the formula you prefer on your Excel spreadsheet’s cells.

How do I Create a Formula in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet? - Article on {essentialDevTips.com}

 

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