Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

University of Algiers 3

Faculty of Economic Sciences, Commercial Sciences and Management

Sciences
First Year L1

Module : Computer Science 1

Chapter 3 : Arithmetic Formulas

From the achievements of the professors:Dr. Riache Lakhda & Dr. Diab Mansour

Under the supervision of the Pedagogical Team for Computer Science 1

Azzi Sihem Kaddour Daouia
Baouni Lila Lalouche Ghania
Belaribi Fatma zohra Mahfoud Sami
Brahim Bounab Mohammed Amine Mahri Soumaya
Diab Mansour Riache Lakhdar
Djebrouni Nadia Sadouki Akila
Djeddou Djamel Yala Adel
Gueham Assia Zirem Djamila
Iabbassen Dalila

Academic Year : 2023 – 2024

Chapter3 : Arithmetic Formulas in EXCEL

Arithmetic Formulas in Excel

Introduction
Before providing the basic Excel formulas list, let's define the key terms just to make sure we are on the
same page. So, what do we call an Excel formula and Excel function?
 Formula is an expression that calculates values in a cell or in a range of cells.
For example, =A2+A2+A3+A4 is a formula that adds up the values in cells A2 through A4.
 Function is a predefined formula already available in Excel. Functions perform specific
calculations in a particular order based on the specified values, called arguments, or parameters.
1) How to sum in Excel using a simple arithmetic calculation
If you need a quick total of several cells, you can use Microsoft Excel as a mini calculator. Just utilize
the plus sign operator (+) like in a normal arithmetic operation of addition. For example:

=1+2+3 Or =B1+C1+D1

However, if you need to sum a few dozen or a few hundred rows, referencing each cell in a formula does
not sound like a good idea. In this case, you can use the Excel SUM function specially designed to add a
specified set of numbers.
1-1) the AutoSum button in Excel.
The AutoSum button is available in two locations on the Excel ribbon.

1. Home tab > Editing group > AutoSum:

2. Formulas tab > Function Library group > AutoSum:

1-2) How to AutoSum in Excel

Whenever you need to sum a single range of cells, whether a column, row or several adjacent columns
or rows, you can have Excel AutoSum to automatically make an appropriate SUM formula for you.

To use AutoSum in Excel, just follow these three easy steps:

1. Select a cell next to the numbers you want to sum:

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Chapter3 : Arithmetic Formulas in EXCEL

o To sum a column, select the cell immediately below the last value in the column.
o To sum a row, select the cell to the right of the last number in the row.

2. Click the AutoSum button on either the Home or Formulas tab.

A Sum formula appears in the selected cell, and a range of cells you're adding gets highlighted (B2:B6
in this example):

In most cases, Excel selects the correct range to total. In a rare case when a wrong range is selected, you
can correct it manually by typing the desired range in the formula or by dragging the cursor through the
cells you want to sum.

Tip. To sum multiple columns or rows at a time, select several cells at the bottom or to the right of your
table, respectively, and then click the AutoSum button.

3. Press the Enter key to complete the formula.

Now, you can see the calculated total in the cell, and the SUM formula in the formula bar:

1-3)Shortcut for Sum in Excel

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Chapter3 : Arithmetic Formulas in EXCEL

If you one of those Excel users that prefer working with the keyboard rather than the mouse, you can
use the following Excel AutoSum keyboard shortcut to total cells:

1-4) Status bar for AutoSum in excel

If you want a quick sum of certain cells in Excel, you can simply select those cells, and look at the status
bar at the bottom right corner of your Excel window:

1-5) the order of operations

Excel calculates formulas based on the following order of operations:
1. Operations enclosed in parentheses
2. Exponentialcalculations (3^2, for example)
3. Multiplicationand division, whichever comes first
4. Additionand subtraction, whichever comes first

A mnemonic that can help you remember the order is PEMDAS, or Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.

1-6) Mathematical operators

Excel uses standard operators for formulas, such as a plus sign for addition (+), a minus sign for
subtraction (-), an asterisk for multiplication (*), a forward slash for division (/), and a caret (^) for
exponents.

Addition +
Subtraction -
Multiplication *
Division /
Exponents 
All formulas in Excel must begin with an equals sign (=) or plus (+). This is because the cell contains, or
is equal(=) to or plus(+) , the formula and the value it calculates.
1-7) Understanding cell references

While you can create simple formulas in Excel manually (for example, =2+7 or =128*5), most of the time
you will use cell addresses to create a formula. This is known as making a cell reference. Using cell
references will ensure that your formulas are always accurate because you can change the value of
referenced cells without having to rewrite the formula.

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Chapter3 : Arithmetic Formulas in EXCEL

By combining a mathematical operator with cell references, you can create a variety of simple formulas
in Excel. Formulas can also include a combination of cell references and numbers, as in the examples
below:

=A1+A2 Adds cells A1 and A2

=B3-4 Subtracts 4 from cell B3

=D6/F5 Divides cell D6 by F5

=G8*1.05 Multiplies cell G8 by 1.05

=E7^2 Finds the square of cell E7

1-8) Types of Cell Reference in Excel

1. Relative cell references:

It does not contain dollar signs in a row or column, e.g., A2. Relative cell reference type in Excel changes
when a formula is copied or dragged to another cell. In Excel, cell referencing is relative by default. It is
the most commonly used cell reference in the formula.
2. Absolute cell reference :
Contains dollar signs attached to each letter or number in a reference, e.g., $B$4. Suppose we mention
a dollar sign before the column and row identifiers. It makes absolute or locks both the column and the
row, i.e., where cell reference remains constant even if it is copied or dragged to another cell.

3. Mixed cell references in Excel:

In Excel, mixed cell references contain dollar signs attached to either the letter or the number in a
reference. E.g., $B2 or B$4. It is a combination of relative and absolute references.
In the below-mentioned table, we have values in each row (D22, D23, and D24) and columns (E21, F21,
and G21). Here, we have to multiply each column with each row with the help of a mixed cell reference.

1-8) creating a formula:

In our example below, we'll use a simple formula and cell references to calculate a value.

1. Select the cell that will contain the formula. In our example, we'll select cell B4.

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Chapter3 : Arithmetic Formulas in EXCEL

2. Type the equals sign (=). Notice how it appears in both the cell and the formulabar.

3. Type the cell address of the cell you want to reference first in the formula: cell B2 in our
example. A blue border will appear around the referenced cell.

4. Type the mathematical operator you want to use. In our example, we'll type the addition sign
(+).
5. Type the cell address of the cell you want to reference second in the formula: cell B3 in our
example. A red borderwillappeararound the referencedcell.

6. Press Enter on your keyboard. The formula will be calculated, and the value will be displayed in
the cell.

2)Calculating percentage with Excel

We are trying to study two different methods for calculating percentage in Excel.

Method 1 : it depends on writing the formula in the cell

Method 2 : use the sign % in the excel interface

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Chapter3 : Arithmetic Formulas in EXCEL

 First Method : writing the formula in the cell

We have the following table, which includes organization’s sales during the past year.

First, we must calculate the total annual sales and put it in the cell (B15):
1- We put an equal sign in this cell B15, to prepare Excel for the calculation

2- Press a sigma sign ∑appaired on the ribbon with the mouse, after that we selection all cells how
about add like this sentences =SUM(B3:B14) , or we write the formula with keyboard.

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Chapter3 : Arithmetic Formulas in EXCEL

3- Press the ENTER key on the keyboard for calculate the sum, the result appaired like this :

4- Now, we would like to calculate a percentage that shows the share of each month's sales in
relation to the total (annual) sales. For example, to find out the sales percentage for the month
of January, we divide 1000 by 21380 and the result is multiplied by 100.

We translate this statement into Excel and exactly write the mathematical formula in cell C3.

5 - Then we press the (ENTER) button for Excel to perform the calculation, and we obtain this result:

We notice many numbers after the comma, so they can be reduced to just one number by pressing
several times on the button shown in the following image.

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Chapter3 : Arithmetic Formulas in EXCEL

To calculate the rest of the ratios, all we have to do is drag down the athematical formula in C3 using the
mouse to cell C15.

We get the following picture, knowing that this error is #DIV0! This means that we can’t divide a number
by 0.

If we examine the matter carefully, we find that the formula has been moved to the cells following the
division of the cells following the sum, which are empty, and which Excel considers to include a zero, so
this error appeared, and accordingly we want to keep the denominator with the fixed value in cell B15,
so the solution lies in fixing this value using the symbol $ to install line 15.

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Chapter3 : Arithmetic Formulas in EXCEL

After dragging the formula in the previous manner from C3 using the mouse until cell C15, we obtain:

 The second method to calculate the percentage is by using the % symbol in the bar

1 – Firstly, we calculate January sales B3 by dividing the total sales B15, by writing the formula =B13/B15
in cell D3.
2- We press ENTER, then reduce the number of digits after the comma to just one digit, and we obtain

3- We withdraw the formula from D3 to D15 and we obtain

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Chapter3 : Arithmetic Formulas in EXCEL

4- We address the same problem in the same way, that is, by installing the column using the symbol $ as
follows

5- Redraw the mathematical formula from D3 until we reach cell D15, and the picture appears as follows:

6- We click on the icon above the % symbol while keeping the cells in a specific state.

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Chapter3 : Arithmetic Formulas in EXCEL

3)Types of Errors in Excel

The errors can be:

Error message The meaning

1. #DIV/0 The number being divided by is zero.

#N/A A value is not available to the formula or the function.

#NAME? The formula contains unrecognized text.

#NULL! The range in the formula do not intersect.

#NUM! There is a problem with a number used in the formula.

#REF! This error stands for reference error.

#VALUE! A value used in the formula is of the wrong data type.

##### column width is not enough to content value.

Circular This type of error comes when we reference the same cell in which we
Reference are writing the function or formula.

Bibliography:
1-Help Microsoft EXCEL
2- Websites:
https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins-blog/excel-formulas-examples/
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/overview-of-formulas-in-excel-ecfdc708-9162-49e8-
b993-c311f47ca173*

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