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Excel Tips

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. 

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.

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.

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

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. 

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
How to use basic Math Operators in Excel

Learn how to do this step-by-step in the video below 👇

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