Imagine a recipe in Excel.A formula is like your instruction telling Excel what to do with numbers or text in your worksheet. Just like you follow steps in a recipe, you follow a specific format to write a formula in Excel.

Here's how to cook up a simple formula in Excel:

The Equal Sign (=) is your Starting Spice: Every Excel formula begins with an equal sign (=). This tells Excel you're about to give it an instruction.
Numbers and Text are the Ingredients: You can use actual numbers (like 5 or 10.25) or text (like "Hello") directly in your formula.

Math Operators are your Mixing Tools: Use basic math symbols (+, -, , /) to perform calculations. For example, =5 + 3 would add 5 and 3.

Cell References are like Pre-Chopped Ingredients: Instead of typing numbers directly, you can reference other cells in your worksheet. These cell addresses (like A1 or B3) tell Excel exactly where to find the data you want to use. Let's say you have the number 5 in cell A1 and the number 3 in cell B1. The formula =A1 + B1 would add the values in those cells and display the result (8) in the cell where you entered the formula.

Press Enter: Once you've entered your formula, press the Enter key. Excel will evaluate the formula and display the result in the selected cell.

Examples of Simple Formulas:

- Simple Addition: =A1+B1 (adds the values in cells A1 and B1)
- Average: =AVERAGE(A1:A10) (calculates the average of the values in cells A1 to A10)- Concatenation: ="Text "&A1 (combines the text "Text " with the value in cell A1)
- Lookup with VLOOKUP: =VLOOKUP(A2, Sheet2!A:C, 2, FALSE) (looks up the value in cell A2 within a specific range on another sheet and returns the value from the second column)

Here are some additional tips for writing formulas:

Use the Formula Bar: The Formula Bar located above the worksheet shows the formula currently entered in the selected cell. You can edit the formula directly in the Formula Bar.
AutoSum: For quick addition of a range of cells, you can use the AutoSum button (Σ) located on the Home tab. Select the range of cells you want to sum, click AutoSum, and press Enter.

Absolute vs. Relative References: By default, Excel uses relative references, meaning the cell addresses in your formula adjust based on where the formula is copied. You can use absolute references (e.g., $A$1) to lock onto specific cell locations regardless of copying.

Help with Functions: Excel provides helpful information about functions. If you're unsure about a function's syntax or arguments, start typing the function name in the Formula Bar and Excel will display a tooltip with details.
Excel is like a helpful chef. As you type your formula, Excel might suggest functions or cell references to make things easier.  You can also get helpful tips by starting your formula with an equal sign (=) and then pressing F1.

Ready to Experiment?

Open a new Excel worksheet and try out some of these formulas.Remember, you can always copy and paste formulas into other cells, and Excel will automatically adjust the cell references based on the new location.

Beyond the Basics: Explore the Spice Rack of Excel Functions.

While basic formulas are great for simple calculations, Excel also offers a wide variety of built-in functions for more complex tasks.  These functions act like pre-made spice mixes, saving you time and effort.  Explore the "Formulas" tab in Excel to discover functions for things like averaging data, counting items, and working with dates and text.