Step Up! Create a personal account book with Excel (3) Let's try simple formulas

Let's try simple formulas

In Excel, you can create a formula using the contents of cells and display the results in another cell.
Let's create a formula that calculates the total amount of each of type of expense to create a personal account book.

What this page covers

Let's create a table

Let's start by creating a table to put our formula in.

  1. Type in the same headers as are in a personal account book such as "Meals" and "Entertainment Allowance".

Type in the same headers as are in a personal account book.

  1. Starting with the row in which you entered the headers, create a table by selecting Table from the Insert menu.

Create a table by selecting Table from the Insert menu.

  1. Set the cell format for the cell that displays the total amounts to Currency. This drop down menu is in the Number palette on the Home tab.

Set the cell format for the cell to Currency.

Let's try simple formulas

Let's insert a formula that automatically calculates each of the expense totals.
In this example, the expenses entered in the personal account book for each day are totaled by type, and the results are displayed.

  1. Select the cell in which you want to insert the formula.

Click the "Meals" cell.

Select the cell in which you want to insert the formula.

  1. Click AutoSum in the Function Library on the Formulas tab.

Click AutoSum in the Function Library.

  1. The formula is displayed in the "Meals" cell.

The calculation range is automatically recognized. In this example, the two consecutive columns next to the Meals column are recognized.

The formula is displayed in the "Meals" cell, and the calculation range is recognized.

Tip: What is SUM?
Doctor In Excel, "Functions" are provided to make the most of values entered in cells. There are functions to insert formulas, functions to give the maximum or average value for the selected range, and functions to count how many times a particular character appears within the selected range.
"SUM" is a function that gives the total of the numbers in the selected range.
  1. Drag to select "Meals" in the original table.

Drag to select "Meals" in the original table.

  1. The formula is displayed in the "Meals" cell.

The formula is displayed in the "Meals" cell.

  1. Press the Enter key.

The results of the calculation are displayed.

The results of the calculation are displayed.

  1. Let's insert a formula using "AutoSum" for the other items in the same way.

Insert a formula using "AutoSum".

Tip: You can enter a formula directly
Doctor

You can enter a formula directly in a cell without using one of the prepared "Functions".
In Excel, there are rules for entering formulas in cells.
Formulas always start with the equal sign (=). The text or numbers that follow the equal sign are considered the formula.
After the equal sign, you can type in the cell number, numbers, or symbols and create a formula. For more information, see here.

Overview of formulas

"Let's create your personal account book" is next.

 
 
Applies to:
Excel 2010