1. CTS130 Spreadsheet Lesson 6 Working with Math & Trig, Statistical, and Date & Time Functions

2. Functions A function is a built-in formula. Many functions do things automatically that would be difficult or time-consuming for you to do manually. Excel functions area divided into categories. All functions have a syntax, which defines the necessary parts of the function and the order of those parts. An argument is what the function needs to complete its calculation, usually one or more values or cell ranges.

3. A function’s argument can consists of: Cell references - individual cells or ranges Constants - a number keyed in the formula Another function - known as a nested function Range names – actual names given to a range of cells

4. =SUM function adds long columns or rows of values

5. Ways to insert a function 1. Click in the cell and key the function manually. 2. Click the AutoSum button. 3. INSERT Menu - Function Description Syntax

6. On the “Insert Function” dialog box, you can select a category of functions.

7. Suggested range Click here and drag to move dialog box. Once you have selected the function category, the Function Argument dialog box will appear. Click the cells to be included in the function. If you click in the wrong cell or number box, reposition the pointer and click again in the correct location.

8. TRUNC function – removes the decimal part of a decimal.

9. SUMIF function – adds cells only if they meet a certain condition that you set. Criteria: the value in the range C5;C9 must be greater than 3 to be included in the sum.

10. AVERAGE function – calculates the arithmetic mean of a range of cells and then divides by the number of values. ( The average ignores text, blank cells, error values, and logical values.)

11. MIN function – shows the minimum value MAX function – shows the maximum value Ignores text, blank cells, error values, and logical values.

12. COUNT function – tallies the number of values in a range. Ignores text, blank cells, error values, and logical values.

13. COUNTA function – tallies values as well as labels in a range. Ignores blank cells, error values, and logical values.

14. TODAY () Function – displays the current date, using the computer’s internal clock. Excel recalculates the results each time the workbook is opened.

15. Format Menu > Cells option

16. Time Function If the user does not key a.m. or p.m. when keying a time, Excel assumes a.m. Do not key the colon and 00 if the time is on the hour. Do not capitalize am or pa – because Excel will automatically do that.

17. NOW() Function - similar to the TODAY() function. It uses the computer’s clock to show the current date and time. Key =now( and press ENTER. Excel supplies the closing parenthesis. The default format may not include the time. You can create a “custom” format: