Advanced Excel

Addition Operator

Addition uses the + symbol in Excel, and is also known as plus.

There are two ways to do addition in Excel. Either by using the + symbol in a formula or by using the SUM function.

How to add cells:

Select a cell and type (=)
Select a cell
Type (+)
Select another cell
Hit enter

You can add more cells to the formula by typing (+) between the cells.

Let’s have a look at some examples.

Adding Two Manual Entries

Type A1(=)
Type 5+5
Hit enter

Congratulations! You have successfully added 5+5=10.

Adding Two Cells

First let’s add some numbers to work with. Type the following values:

How to do it, step by step:

Type B1(=)
Select A1
Type (+)
Select A2
Hit enter

Great! 30 is the result by adding A1 and A2.

Adding Several Cells

First let’s add some numbers to work with. Type the following values:

Step by step to add several cells:

Type B1(=)
Select A1
Type (+)
Select A2
Type (+)
Select A3
Type (+)
Select A4
Type (+)
Select A5
Hit enter

Good job! You have successfully added five cells!

Adding with SUM

Let’s keep the numbers from the last exercise. If you did last exercise, remove the value in B1.

Step by step to add with SUM:

Type B1(=SUM)
Double click the SUM command
Mark the range A1:A5
Hit enter

Note: SUM saves you time! Keep practicing this function.

Adding Using Absolute Reference

You can also lock a cell and add it to other cells.

How to do it, step by step:

Select a cell and type (=)
Select the cell you want to lock, add two dollar signs ($) before the column and row
Type (+)
Fill a range

Let’s have a look at an example where we add B(5) to the range A1:A10 using absolute reference and the fill function.

Type the values:

Step by step:

Type C1(=)
Select B1
Type dollar sign before column and row $B$1
Type (+)
Select A1
Hit enter
Fill the range C1:C10

Great! You have successfully used absolute reference to add B1(5) with the range A1:A10.

Excel Subtraction Operator

Subtraction Operator

Subtraction uses the - symbol, and is also known as minus.

How to subtract cells:

Select a cell and type (=)
Select the minuend
Type (-)
Select the subtrahend
Hit enter

Note: The minuend is the number to which the subtrahend subtracts from.

You can add more cells to the formula by typing (-) between the cells.

Let’s have a look at some examples.

Subtracting Two Manual Entries

Let’s start with adding in a formula. Start with a clean sheet

Step by step:

Type A1(=)
Type 100-50
Hit enter

Tip: You can add more values into the formula by typing (-) between the cells.

Subtracting Using Two Cells

Let’s add some numbers to work with. Type the following values:

Subtracting using two cells, step by step:

Type A3(=)
Select A1
Type (-)
Select A2
Hit enter

Subtracting Using Many Cells

Let’s subtract using many cells. First, type the following values:

Step by step:

Type B1(=)
Select A1
Type (-)
Select A2
Type (-)
Select A3
Type (-)
Select A4
Type (-)
Select A5
Hit enter

Subtracting Using Absolute Reference

You can lock a cell and subtract it from other cells.

How to do it, step by step:

Select a cell and type (=)
Select the minuend
Type (-)
Select the subtrahend and add two dollar signs ($) before the column and row
Hit enter
Fill the range

Note: The minuend is the number to which the subtrahend subtracts from.

Let’s have a look at an example where we subtract B(5) from the range A1:A10 using absolute reference and fill function.

Type the values:

Step by step:

Type C1(=)
Select A1
Type (-)
Select B1 and type dollar sign before column and row $B$1
Hit enter
Fill C1:C10

You got it! You have successfully used absolute reference to subtract B1(5) from the minuend range A1:A10.

Excel Multiplication Operator

Multiplication Operator

Multiplication uses the * symbol in Excel.

How to multiply cells:

Select a cell and type (=)
Select a cell
Type (*)
Select another cell
Hit enter

You can add more cells to formula by typing (*) between the cells.

Let’s have a look at some examples.

Multiplying Manual Entries

Let’s start with adding in a formula. Start with a clean sheet.

Step by step:

Type A1(=)
Type 2*2
Hit enter

Multiplying Two Cells

Let’s add some numbers to work with. Type the following values:

Step by step:

Type A3(=)
Select A1
Type (*)
Select A2
Hit enter

Multiplying Using Absolute Reference

You can lock a cell and multiply it with other cells.

How to do it, step by step:

Select a cell and type (=)
Select the cell you want to lock and add two dollar signs ($) before the column and row
Type (*)
Select another cell
Hit enter
Fill the range

Let’s have a look at an example where we multiply B(5) with the range A1:A10 using absolute reference and the fill function.

Type the values:

Step by step:

Type C1(=)
Select B1 type dollar sign before column and row $B$1
Type (*)
Select A1
Hit enter
Fill C1:C10

You got it! You have successfully used absolute reference to multiply B1(5) with the range A1:A10.

Excel Division Operator

Division Operator

Division uses the / symbol in Excel.

How to do division cells:

Select a cell and type (=)
Select a cell
Type (/)
Select another cell
Hit enter

You can add more cells to the formula by typing (/) between the cells.

Let’s have a look at some examples.

Dividing Manual Entries

Let’s start with adding in a formula. Start with a clean sheet.

Step by step:

Type A1(=)
Type 4/2
Hit enter

Dividing Two Cells

Let’s add some numbers to work with. Type the following values:

Step by step:

Type A3(=)
Select A1
Type (/)
Select A2
Hit enter

Dividing Using Absolute Reference

You can lock a cell and divide it with other cells.

How to do it, step by step:

Select a cell and type (=)
Select the dividend
Type (/)
Select the divisor lock and add two dollar signs ($) before the column and row
Hit enter
Fill the range

Note: Dividend is the number being divided by the divisor.

Let’s have a look at an example where we divide B(5) with the range A1:A10 using absolute reference and fill function.

Type the values: