Say what a formula does
Make a spreadsheet add a column up and keep the answer right by itself.
A formula is an instruction typed into a cell instead of a number. It starts with an equals sign, and the cell shows the answer.
Change any figure it uses and the answer redoes itself.
Key points
- A formula starts with an equals sign and shows its answer in the cell
- It redoes itself whenever a figure it uses changes
What to remember
- An equals sign turns typing into arithmetic.
- A formula is a live sum, not a typed answer.
Try this
Type three numbers down a spreadsheet column. In the box beneath, type =SUM( and highlight the three.
Practice: Say what a formula does. Your first lesson is free, with no account or card; the rest are part of a Lantern plan. Interactive lessons require JavaScript.