How to do Basic Math in Excel

In this article, you will learn how to perform basic Math calculations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in Excel. 

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What are the Math operators available in Excel?

Excel includes a range of mathematical functions for calculations.To perform basic math operations in Excel, you can use the following operators:

1. Addition (+): The addition operator (+) is used to add two or more numbers in Excel. For example, you can use this operator to add up the monthly sales figures of a company.
2. Subtraction (-): The subtraction operator (-) is used to subtract one number from another in Excel. For example, you can use this operator to calculate the difference between the budgeted and actual expenses for a project.
3. Multiplication (*): The multiplication operator (*) is used to multiply two or more numbers in Excel. For example, you can use this operator to calculate the total cost of a project by multiplying the number of hours worked by the hourly rate.
4. Division (/): The division operator (/) is used to divide one number by another in Excel. For example, you can use this operator to calculate the average score of a group of students by dividing the total score by the number of students.

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How to perform Addition in Excel?

To perform addition in Excel, you can use the "+" operator or the SUM function. Here are the steps to use the operator method:

Using the "+" operator:

Step 1: Open a new or existing Excel worksheet. In an empty cell, enter “=” and then enter the first number you want to add.

Step 2: Type the "+" operator and enter the second number you want to add.

Step 3: Press Enter on your keyboard. The result will be displayed in the cell.

=5+6

Alternatively, if you want to use the SUM function please refer to the following article here.

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How to perform Subtraction in Excel?

To perform subtraction in Excel, you can use the "-" operator. Here are the steps to use the same:

Using the "-" operator:

Step 1: Open a new or existing Excel worksheet. In an empty cell, enter “=” and then enter the first number from which you want to subtract.

Step 2: Type the "-" operator and enter the second number you want to subtract.

Step 3: Press Enter on your keyboard. The result will be displayed in the cell.

=6-2

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How to perform Multiplication in Excel?

To perform multiplication in Excel, you can use the "*" operator or the PRODUCT function. Here are the steps to use the operator method:

Using the "*" operator:

Step 1: Open a new or existing Excel worksheet. In an empty cell, enter “=” and then enter the first number which you want to multiply.

Step 2: Type the "*" operator and enter the second number you want to multiply.

Step 3: Press Enter on your keyboard. The result will be displayed in the cell.

=5*6

Alternatively, you can use the PRODUCT function, please refer to the following article for the steps to use the formula. 

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How to perform Division in Excel?

To perform division in Excel, you can use the "/" operator. Here are the steps to use the same:

Using the "/" operator:

Step 1: Open a new or existing Excel worksheet. In an empty cell, enter “=” and then enter the first number from which you want to divide.

Step 2: Type the "/" operator and enter the second number you want to divide with.

Step 3: Press Enter on your keyboard. The result will be displayed in the cell.

=35/5

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