How to Make a Spreadsheet Formula
Spreadsheets are a great way to keep track of data. Most spreadsheet programs contain formula options to meet the needs of most users. A formula is the manner in which a spreadsheet performs a calculation of data.
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Instructions
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1
Open your spreadhseet program (such as Microsoft Excel or Works Spreadsheet). For this article, Microsoft Works Spreadsheet is used.
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2
Note that columns in the blank spreadsheet are represented by upper case letters, and rows are listed as numbers.
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3
Click on various cells throughout the spreadsheet, and notice that the column and row name (letter and number) will appear near the upper right corner of the document.
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4
Populate the spreadsheet with your data. In the example, a spreadsheet with data for equipment purchases is used.
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5
Click once in a blank cell where you want to enter a formula. For the example, a formula will be developed to determine the tax amount and total cost of the item with tax.
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6
Click once on the "Tools" menu and select "Easy Calc."
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7
Click once on the type of calculation, or "formula," that you want to create. "Multiply" has been selected in the example, as the formula requires the multiplication of the item cost and sales tax.
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8
Click once on the "Next" button.
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9
Click once in the cells that contain the values you want to calculate in the formula. Note that the cell name (letter, number) appear in the "List of values" field. In the example, since there is no cell with the tax amount in it, an asterisk (for multiply) is added, as well as ".06" for the tax amount.
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10
Note that the result of the formula ("$0.60") appears in the cell, and the formula appears in the formula bar. To copy the formula all of the way down the column, just click once on the cell, then click once on the small square in the lower right corner of the cell and drag to the last cell in the column while holding the mouse button down.
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Repeat steps 5 through 9 for each formula or calculation you want to perform in the spreadsheet. For example, to figure the total cost for each item, the "Add" option from the "Easy Calc" function was used to add the "Cost" and "Tax" together.
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Tips & Warnings
To total a column of numbers without going to the trouble of entering the formula, highlight the column and use the "Auto Sum" function, which is represented with a "sigma" symbol. To perform more complicated calculations, use the "Function" option under the "Insert" menu. In Microsoft Excel, you can enter formulas directly into the formula field using the arithmetic symbols (/, *, -, +).
