In this tutorial, you will learn how to create formulas in Google Sheets
How To Create a Formula In Google Sheets
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One of the most important features of Google Sheets is the ability to create formulas. Formulas are equations that allow you to perform calculations on your data. Formulas allow your spreadsheet to become dynamic.
You can use mathematical operators such as ‘+’ and ‘*’ to create a basic formula. For example, you may want to create a formula that finds the sum of two particular cells. Another important aspect to know is the large amount of built-in functions users can use as a part of their formula.
In this guide, we will show you how to create a formula in Google Sheets. We’ll explain how to write a formula from scratch and how to use Google Sheets functions to make complicated calculations.
How To Write a Formula In Google Sheets
Here’s how to write a formula in Google Sheets.
Step 1
First, select the cell where you want to add your formula.
In this example, we want to add a formula in cell B4 that computes the sum of the values in cell B1 and cell B2.
Step 2
All formulas must start with an equal sign.
Step 3
Type the first cell reference you want to use for the formula.
Step 4
Next, add a mathematical operator to indicate which operation you want to perform.
In this case, we’ve typed ‘+’ to indicate we want to add a value to the value in cell B1.
Step 5
After the operator, type the second cell reference you want to include in your formula.
Step 6
Hit the Enter key to return the result of the formula.
Step 7
Besides mathematical operators, users can also take advantage of built-in functions. Built-in functions can be used by typing the name of the function followed by a pair of parentheses.
Users can also find a list of available functions by clicking on the Functions icon in the toolbar, as seen above. Clicking on your desired option will automatically add the function to the currently-selected cell.
Google Sheets will provide a helpful tooltip to show you what the function does and what arguments are needed for it.
Step 8
Type the desired arguments into the function.
Step 9
Hit the Enter key to evaluate the function.
Summary
This guide should be everything you need to create a formula in Google Sheets.
You may make a copy of this example spreadsheet to test it out on your own.