How to Create a Formula in Excel 2003

You already know that an Excel spreadsheet is a great place to keep a budget, track your caloric intake and perform a multitude of other activities involving numbers. You can easily amp up your worksheet by using formulas to do all sorts of calculations for you. Since the capabilities of Excel 2003 go way beyond simple addition and subtraction, you can get the most out of the program by learning about formula creation. Here is how to create a formula in Excel 2003.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer
• Excel 2003

1. Open Excel by double-clicking the Excel icon on your desktop. If you already have a spreadsheet made, you can create a formula using your existing data. If you do not have any data, just plug some numbers into the cells so you can try out these formulas.
2. Decide what your formula needs to calculate. Do you need to add up a column or row of figures? Do you need to divide one cell's value by another cell's value?
3. Start with an “=” (equal sign). Every formula will start with an equal sign. If you don't begin with this symbol, your formula will not work.
4. Put the first cell's name next. Each cell has a name assigned to it. “A1” is the first cell in the worksheet. Find the cell name by looking at the row and column that it is in.
5. Use the correct function key: “*” for multiplication, “/” for division, “+” is for addition and “-“ for subtraction.
6. Insert the last cell name. This is just like a math problem. Use the same rules as a simple math problem and your formula will work for you.
7. Hit “Enter.” Does your formula work? Double-check to make sure the components of the formula are correct.

Tips & Warnings

• Your final simple formula should look like this: =A1-B7 or =G99/D55.
• If you have assigned names to your cells, you can use these names in your formula. For example: =debits-credits
• Remember to save your worksheet to avoid losing your work.

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