How to use functions in a spreadsheet
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Now that we know how to write a formula, let's learn about functions!
When adding up a column of numbers, you could write something like:
=B1+B2+B3+B4
...but that's not a very elegant solution. What if you had hundreds of rows to add up? Not very practical!
This is where functions come in handy.
Functions also start with the "=" symbol, and they have a name. Some common function names are SUM, MAX, and AVERAGE. The basic syntax for functions looks like this:
=NAME(????)
In the example above, "NAME" is just the name of the function. The ????? part might be a number, a cell name, a range of cells, or a series of values separated by commas.
HINT: Don't put any spaces before or after the NAME part!
A commonly used function is the SUM function. It just "sums up" all the numbers inside a range. So the following function:
=SUM(B1:B5)
...will add up ALL the numbers between B1 and B5 inclusive. Super handy, right?
In fact, the SUM function is so handy that most spreadsheet programs have a shortcut button for it. Look for a button with the Σ symbol on it (this letter is called "Sigma" - it's the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet).
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Thanks for watching!
Kathleen, [email protected]