ABSTRACT
Each block in a column or row is called a cell and has its own address: A1, B2, C3, etc. Cells can contain numbers or text.
The bar at the top of the screen is split into two sections. It is called the Formula Bar. The right side is where you enter a formula or where you can edit the contents of an individual cell. When you need to do any kind of calculation or data analysis in Excel you do it with a formula and you write that formula in any cell on the spreadsheet. Regardless of the cell you write it in, as you write it or whenever you click on it, you will see it in the Formula Bar. All formulas begin with the equal sign. Next to the equal sign is the type of calculation you want Excel to do for you: SUM, AVERAGE, MEDIAN, MODE, etc. Although the bar is called the Formula Bar, the formula itself is called a FUNCTION. You need to know that, because Excel can do so many different types of calculations (functions), you won’t be able to keep track of them all. You don’t have to. If you click on any cell, you can go up to the INSERT menu at the top of the screen and click on FUNCTION. That will not only give you a drop down list of every possible calculation Excel can do, but if you click on any one of them, it will give you a brief description of how it works.
