Beginner · Lesson 2 of 12

Your first formula

Every formula starts with =

The = sign tells Excel to calculate instead of just showing what you typed.

Use cell addresses, not numbers

If you type =900+300, the answer never changes. If you type =B2+B3, it updates when those cells change. That is the whole point of a spreadsheet.

The math signs

Use + to add, - to subtract, * to multiply, / to divide and ^ for powers. Excel multiplies and divides before it adds and subtracts. Use brackets to change the order.