MIS 105 Excel Functions and Tutorials

Quick Addition
=SUM ( Number1, Number2, ... Number255 )
Up to 255 numbers can be added
Quick Multiplication
=PRODUCT( Number1, Number2, ... Number255 )
Average
=average(Number1,Number2)
Minimum
=min(Number1,Number2)
Maximum
=max(Number1,Number2..)
Count
=count(Number1,Number2.)
Median
=median(Number1,Number2.)

Remember that it is always better to type the number in a cell and then refer to the cell
number in your formula.
Remember you can also use these functions by selecting a range rather than a single
number/cell
Remember it is always better to select the cell range with your mouse(eg A2:C5) rather
than typing them in.

Round
= ROUND ( Number, Num_digits )
Number - the value to be rounded. This argument can contain the actual data for rounding or it
can be a cell reference to the location of the data in the worksheet.
Num_digits - the number of decimal places to reduce the above number to.

Concatenate
=Concatenate( text1, text2, ... text_n )
=Left(Text, Number of Characters)
=Right(Text, Number of Characters)
Number of Characters: Number of characters you want to fetch from the left or right
Using Concatenate and Left for Initials
=CONCATENATE(Left(E1,1), Left(F1,1))
Logical Operations
>Greater than
<less than
>=Greater than or equal to
<=Less than or equal to
Sumif
= SUMIF (Range, Criteria, Sum Range)
Range - the group of cells the function is to search.
Criteria - determines whether the cell is to be summed or not.
Sum Range - the data range that is summed if the first range meets the specified criteria. If this
range is omitted, the first range is summed instead.
Example: =SUMIF(E4:E7,">2000") (Remember the double quotation!)
Example: =SUMIF(D4:F7,"GrameenPhone",E4:F4) (It works with text too and sums the corresponding
cells in the next column)
IF

=IF ( logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false )

logical_test - a value or expression that is tested to see if it is true or false.
value_if_true - the value that is displayed if logical_test is true.

value_if_false - the value that is displayed if logical_test is false.

Example: = IF ( D1 < 26 , 100 , 200 ) meaning if D1 is less than 26 show value 100 if it is not less than 26
then show value 200.

Nested IF Statement Example:

= IF ( E6<30000, E3*E7, IF ( E7<50000, E4*E7, E5*E7 ))
Countif

COUNTIF(range,criteria)
Range is one or more cells to count, including numbers or names, arrays, or references that
contain numbers. Blank and text values are ignored.
Criteria is the criteria in the form of a number, expression, cell reference, or text that defines
which cells will be counted. For example, criteria can be expressed as 32, "32", ">32", "apples",
or B4.
VLOOKUP/HLOOKUP
=VLOOKUP(ItemToFind,Range,ColumnNumber,Type)
=HLOOKUP(ItemToFind,Range,RowNumber,Type)
Item to find: It is the cell address, formula or actual Value you look up. This item MUST always be on the
First column/row of the range you specify
Range: Needs to have the entire set of values you are looking through.
Type: This is an optional field that has a TRUE or FALSE Value. If you leave it blank, Excel will assume its
TRUE

REMEMBER!!! DO NOT PUT ANY SPACE OR SPECIAL CHARACTERS

BEFORE YOUR DATA VALUE OR ELSE IT WILL SHOW FALSE RESULTS

Remember your quotation marks when your are using text for your lookup value
Remember never to use the TRUE range lookup for text based data as it will give you
random results
While using the TRUE range lookup for numerical data, Excel will lookup the next
lowest number if the number of your lookup value is not found.

Drawing Charts

Select the Data Range you would like to draw a chart on (including labels)

You should normally use text only or a combination of text and number (eg.2011 Sales) for
labels

If you are using numbers, make sure that you first convert the cells into text, enter the numbers,
click on the yellow exclamation point and select ignore this error. Otherwise Excel will recognize
the number label as numerical data.

Go to Insert and under CHARTS select your desired chart type

Remember Line, bar and Column charts should be used to report several series of data, whereas
pie charts should only be used for reporting a single series.

Learn the different customization options to tailor the chart according to your need. To do that
double- click the border of the chart and click on the different chart layouts in the ribbon.

Remember that you should not try to combine two charts, select the data range twice and draw
them separately.