Chapter 2: Using Excel
Noreen Brown; Barbara Lave; Julie Romey; Mary Schatz; and Diane Shingledecker
Learning Objectives
- Use the SUM function to calculate totals.
- Use absolute references to calculate percent of totals.
- Use the COUNT function to count cell locations with numerical values.
- Use the AVERAGE function to calculate the arithmetic mean.
- Use the MAX and MIN functions to find the highest and lowest values in a range of cells.
In addition to formulas, another way to conduct mathematical computations in Excel is through functions. Statistical functions apply a mathematical process to a group of cells in a worksheet. For example, the SUM function is used to add the values contained in a range of cells. A list of commonly used statistical functions is shown in Table 2.4. Functions are more efficient than formulas when you are applying a mathematical process to a group of cells. If you use a formula to add the values in a range of cells, you would have to add each cell location to the formula one at a time. This can be very time-consuming if you have to add the values in a few hundred cell locations. However, when you use a function, you can highlight all the cells that contain values you wish to sum in just one step. This section demonstrates a variety of statistical functions that we will add to the Personal Budget workbook. In addition to demonstrating functions, this section also reviews percent of total calculations and the use of absolute references.
Table 2.4 Commonly Used Statistical Functions
| Function | Output |
| ABS | The absolute value of a number |
| AVERAGE | The average or arithmetic mean for a group of numbers |
| COUNT | The number of cell locations in a range that contain a numeric character |
| COUNTA | The number of cell locations in a range that contain a text or numeric character |
| MAX | The highest numeric value in a group of numbers |
| MEDIAN | The middle number in a group of numbers (half the numbers in the group are higher than the median and half the numbers in the group are lower than the median) |
| MIN | The lowest numeric value in a group of numbers |
| MODE | The number that appears most frequently in a group of numbers |
| PRODUCT | The result of multiplying all the values in a range of cell locations |
| SQRT | The positive square root of a number |
| STDEV.S | The standard deviation for a group of numbers based on a sample |
| SUM | The total of all numeric values in a group |
The SUM Function
The SUM function is used when you need to calculate totals for a range of cells or a group of selected cells on a worksheet. With regard to the Budget Detail worksheet, we will use the SUM function to calculate the totals in row 12. It is important to note that there are several methods for adding a function to a worksheet, which will be demonstrated throughout the remainder of this chapter. The following illustrates how a function can be added to a worksheet by typing it into a cell location:
- Click the