Formulae and functions
Automate calculations that recalculate instantly.
Formula — starts with =; calculates from values and cell references (=A1+A2).
Operators: + − * / ^ (power); comparison =, <, >, <=, >=, <>.
Order of operations (BODMAS): Brackets, Orders (powers), Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction.
Essential functions:
- SUM(range) — total.
- AVERAGE(range) — mean.
- MAX / MIN(range) — largest / smallest.
- COUNT (numbers), COUNTA (non-empty), COUNTIF(range, criteria) (conditional count).
- SUMIF(range, criteria, sum_range) — conditional total.
- IF(condition, true, false) — conditional logic.
- VLOOKUP / XLOOKUP — table lookups.
- ROUND(value, places) — rounding.
Always use cell references, not typed numbers, so the sheet recalculates automatically when data changes.