How to Insert Formulas Into the Excel Formula Bar

Excel can calculate simple and complex math formulas.

The formula bar in Excel shows the formula programmed into any cell within the spreadsheet. It is a field at the top of each worksheet with an italic "fx" in front of it, which stands for "function," which is what Excel calls its formulas. When you click inside a cell, the function, or formula, programmed into that cell will appear in the formula bar, even though the data that is the result of the formula appears within the cell. For example, a formula that adds two cells will show the sum of those two cells in the selected cell, while the formula bar shows a function such as "=SUM(M22:M23)."

Instructions

1. Click inside the cell that you want to hold the function you are programming. This lets the formula bar know where the formula is being applied.

2. Click within the formula bar's field.

3. Type your formula in if you know how to do it by hand. Formulas always begin with the "equal" sign (=), followed by the type of formula, then the instructions on how it applies to the cells within parentheses. For example, if you want to add cells B2 through B20 and C2 through C20 to get the total of all cells together, you would type "=SUM(B2:B20,C2:C20)" (without quotes). The colon stands for the word "through" while the comma functions as an "and."

4. Hold the "Shift" key and press "F3" to open the function dialog box if you do not know the terms for your function. Select the type of function from the dialog box, such as "SUM" for addition or "PRODUCT" for multiplication, then click "OK."

5. Enter the cell numbers, using the format of row letter then column number, you want to use in the formula, using a colon as "through" to include a range of connected cells. Use the individual "Number" boxes or a comma as "and" to denote cells that aren't connects.

6. Click "OK" when your formula is complete. It will appear in the formula bar and the cell you specified.

References

• Microsoft Office: Summing Up Ways to Add and Count Excel Data
• "Microsoft Office Excel 2003, Level 1;" Vincent Iglesias-Cardinale; 2005