Formulas in Google Sheets: Become an Expert in Calculations

Have you ever wondered how to perform complex calculations in Google Sheets? Look no further! In this article, we’ll explore the power of formulas in Google Sheets and learn how to count Pokeballs for Pokémon trainers. So grab your calculators and let’s dive in!

Mastering Formulas

Formulas are an essential element of Google Sheets, enabling you to perform mathematical calculations with ease. To use formulas, simply start with an equal sign (=) followed by your calculation. For example, here are a few basic formulas you can try:

=1+1
=2*2
=4/2=2

You can even use cell references as inputs for your formulas. Simply select the desired cells and let the magic happen!

Practical Example

To better understand how formulas work, let’s walk through a practical example.

1. First, enter or copy the following values into your sheet:

   • A1: 2
   • A2: 4

2. Now, let’s perform a simple calculation using these values. Here’s how you do it:

   • Select cell C1 and type the equal sign (=).
   • Select cell A1.
   • Type the plus sign (+).
   • Select cell A2.
   • Press Enter.

Congratulations! You have successfully calculated the formula A1(2) + A2(4) = C1(6).

Now, let’s play around with the formula. Change the plus sign (+) to a multiplication sign (*) and press Enter. Ta-da! You should now see C1(8). Amazing, right?

Google Sheets makes calculations a breeze, allowing you to add values to cells and perform various operations effortlessly. Feel free to experiment by changing the multiplication (*) to subtraction (-) or division (/). Just remember to clear the sheet after each experiment!

Counting Pokeballs!

Now, let’s move on to another exciting example. Imagine we’re helping Pokémon trainers count their precious Pokeballs.

1. Enter or copy the following values into your sheet:

   • A2: Iva
   • B2: 2
   • C2: 3
   • D2: 1

2. Let’s count Iva’s Pokeballs:

   • Select cell E2 and type the equal sign (=).
   • Select cell B2.
   • Type the plus sign (+).
   • Select cell C2.
   • Type the plus sign (+).
   • Select cell D2.
   • Press Enter.

Did you get the value E2(6)? Fantastic! You’ve helped Iva count her Pokeballs.

Now, let’s assist Liam and Adora in counting theirs.

Remember the fill handle function we learned earlier? It can be used to continue calculations horizontally, vertically, or both. Let’s give it a try!

Use the fill handle to continue the formula:

• Select cell E2.
• Fill cell E2:E4.

Voilà! The fill handle has extended the calculation to include the following rows. How convenient! Now we’ve counted the Pokeballs for all three trainers: Iva(6), Liam(12), and Adora(15).

Now, let’s find out how many Pokeballs Iva, Liam, and Adora have in total.

The sum of all Pokeballs is called “SUM” in Google Sheets. There are two ways to calculate this sum:

1. By adding the cells:
   • Select cell E5 and type the equal sign (=).
   • Select cell E2.
   • Type the plus sign (+).
   • Select cell E3.
   • Type the plus sign (+).
   • Select cell E4.
   • Press Enter.

The result should be E5(33).

2. By using the “SUM” function:
   • Delete the current value in cell E5.
   • Type the equal sign (=) in E5.
   • Write “SUM”.
   • Double-click “SUM” in the menu.
   • Select the range E2:E4.
   • Press Enter.

Congratulations! You have successfully calculated the sum using the “SUM” function.

Therefore, Iva, Liam, and Adora have a total of 33 Pokeballs.

Feel free to modify any value to see what happens. For example, change B2 from 2 to 7. Notice how the formulas automatically recalculate, updating the sum from 33 to 38. This feature allows you to modify values while preserving the calculations.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter, we’ve discovered that you can enter values directly or use cell references in formulas. Formulas automatically update when you modify the referenced cells. The fill handle function enables you to expand formulas effortlessly. Google Sheets also offers a wide range of predefined functions, such as “SUM”.

In the next chapter, we’ll dive deeper into relative and absolute references.

To learn more about advanced Google Sheets features, visit Crawlan.com. You’ll find tips, tutorials, and much more to become a true Google Sheets expert!

Now that you’ve mastered the basics, get ready to take your spreadsheet skills to the next level. Stay tuned!