How to Create Simple Formulas in Excel

Basic Excel Operators An Excel operator is a symbol used in a formula to perform a mathematical calculation. The four basic operators are:

• Plus sign for addition
• The minus sign for subtraction
• Asterisk (star over the 8 key on your keyboard) for multiplication
• Forward slash (on the question mark key on your keyboard) for division

Addition ADDITION. With the numbers you want to add already in your Excel worksheet, click your mouse in the cell where you want the formula for the total to be. Then:

• Press the equal sign ( = ) on your keyboard. It’s next to the Backspace key. All calculations begin with the equal sign.

• If you have only two cells with numbers that you want added together, click in one of the cells. When you do, the cell address for the number you selected appears in the formula. In this case, the cell address is A5. Press the plus ( + ) sign (next to the Backspace key or you can use the plus sign on a regular keyboard’s right side numeric key pad), and then click in the next cell you want to add. In our example, the formula would be =A5+B5. Press the Enter key and the results display as 54. If you click in the total cell, you can see the formula displaying in the formula bar (you can click on the image to enlarge it).

• If you have more than two cells to add, click in the cell where you want the total to be. Press the equal sign. Type in “sum” (without the quotes) and a left parenthesis, then click in the first cell and while holding down on the mouse button, drag your pointer through the continuous cells that you want to add. Once all the cells have been selected, press the right parenthesis key, and then press enter. Your formula might look something like this: =sum(A5:D5)

Subtraction SUBTRACTION. With the numbers you want to subtract already in the Excel worksheet, click your mouse in the cell where you want the formula to be. Then:

• Press the equal sign ( = )

• Click in the cell that you want to subtract from

• Press the minus sign ( - ) on your keyboard (next to the zero key or you can use the minus sign on the right side numeric key pad)

• Click in the second cell that you want to subtract

• Your formula might look something like =B4-B5

• Press the Enter key

• If you click in the cell where you just entered your formula, the result will show while the formula displays in the formula bar.

Multiplication MULTIPLICATION. With the numbers you want to multiple already in the Excel worksheet, click your mouse in the cell where you want the formula to be. Then:

• Press the equal sign ( = )

• Click either of the cells that you want to multiple

• Press the asterisk key ( * ) on your keyboard (over the 8 key or you can use the * sign on the right numeric keypad)

• Click in the second cell that you want to multiply

• Your formula might look something like =B4*B5

• Press the Enter key

• If you click in the cell where you just entered your formula, the result will show while the formula displays in the formula bar.

Division DIVISION. With the numbers you want to divide already in the Excel worksheet, click your mouse in the cell where you want the formula to be. Then:

• Press the equal sign ( = )

• Click the cell that you want to divide into

• Press the forward slash, i.e., divide sign ( / ) on your keyboard (on the question mark key or you can use the / sign on the right numeric keypad)

• Click in the second, “divide by” cell

• Your formula might look something like =B4/B5

• Press the Enter key

• If you click in the cell where you just entered your formula, the result will show while the formula displays in the formula bar.