How to perform mathematical calculations on Google Sheets

How to perform mathematical calculations on Google Sheets

 One of the foremost useful things that you simply can do with Google Sheets, is mathematics. Whether you're simply eager to solve basic math problems, or whether you've got calculations that require to be performed on a group of knowledge , doing math during a Google spreadsheet is extremely easy if you recognize the proper symbols to use.

To do math during a Google spreadsheet, follow these steps:

Type an sign during a cell (=)
Type a number, or a cell reference (of a cell that contains a number)
Then use one among the subsequent mathematical operators + (Plus), – (Minus), * (Multiply), / (Divide)
Type another number or cell reference
Press enter
In this article i'm getting to show you ways to try to to math during a Google Spreadsheet, by using ordinary numbers and cell references… and that i also will show you the difference between mathematical functions, and mathematical operators.

Here are the mathematical formulas in Google Sheets:
Addition formulas in Google Sheets
Add by using cell references

=A1+A2
Add numbers, without cell references

=100+200
Add by using the ADD function

=ADD(100,200)
Sum formula in Google Sheets
=SUM(A1:A7)
Subtraction formulas in Google Sheets
Subtract by using cell references

=A1-A2
Subtract numbers, without cell references

=700-300
Subtract by using the MINUS function

=MINUS(700,300)
Multiplication formulas in Google Sheets
Multiply by using cell references

=A1*B1
Multiply numbers, without cell references

=10*7
Multiply by using the MULTIPLY function

=MULTIPLY(10,7)
Division formulas in Google Sheets
Divide by using cell references

=A1/B1
Divide numbers, without cell references

=100/5
Divide by using the DIVIDE function

=DIVIDE(100,5)
Square formulas in Google Sheets
Square by using cell references

=A1^2
Square numbers, without cell references

=2^2
Square numbers using the facility function

=POWER(2,2)
=POW(2,2)
Square root formulas in Google Sheets
Square root by using cell references

=SQRT(A1)
Square root numbers, without cell references

=SQRT(9)
Get your free Google Sheets cheat sheet
Spreadsheet math: Functions Vs. Operators
If you're new using Google Sheets formulas, it are often very tempting to use the mathematical functions like =Add, =Subtract, =Minus, =Divide… and these functions do work… but it's much easier and more common to use spreadsheet operators when doing Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division in Google Sheets (and squaring too).

Some of these mathematical operators (listed below) are very intuitive, like Plus (+) and Minus (-), however not all all super obvious, like the symbol/operator multiplication, which you'll think would be the letter "x"… but is really an asterisk (*).

For summing and square rooting, functions are required for doing this sort of math problem rather than operators.

Mathematical spreadsheet operators
Plus sign (+) ~ Addition
Minus sign (-) ~ Subtraction
Asterisk (*) ~ Multiplication
Forward Slash (/) ~ Division
Carrot (^) ~ Exponent
Mathematical spreadsheet functions
=ADD( ~ Addition
=MINUS( ~ Subtraction
=MULTIPLY( ~ Multiplication
=DIVIDE( ~ Division
=SUM( ~ Summing
=POWER( ~ Exponent / Power
=SQRT( ~ root
Order of operations during a spreadsheet
The order of operations that's taught in normal math classes, also apply during a Google Spreadsheet. the simplest thanks to confirm that you simply r mathematical formulas are solved within the order that you expect, is to use more parentheses to isolate your needed numbers/terms

The order of operations during a spreadsheet goes as follows:

P (Parentheses)
E (Exponents)
M (Multiplication)
D (Division)
A (Addition)
S (Subtraction)
Here is an example of how the order of operations applies to a math problem:

=(6-3)+2^2/4*4-1
=(3)+2^2/4*4-1
=(3)+4/4*4-1
=(3)+1*4-1
=(3)1
=7-1
=6
Using plain numbers vs. cell references
While fixing math formulas in your Google spreadsheet, you'll type numbers directly into the formula, otherwise you also can ask a cell that features a number inside it…. otherwise you can use a mixture of the 2 where needed.

The big advantage to using cell references in your formulas, is that you simply can easily change the amount inside the cell, and thus the amount in your formula… without having to change the formula itself. this is often made even more useful once you have multiple formulas that use an equivalent cell reference.

Whether you ought to type the numbers directly into the formula, or if you ought to enter the numbers into cells then ask those cells in your formula… all depends on your specific task. If you propose to vary variety quite frequently, then it's best to use a cell reference. But if you're applying a continuing in your formula which will not change, it's going to be better just to type the amount within the formula.

There are several samples of this shown below with images included, but here may be a quick explanation of using cell references vs. plain numbers in mathematical spreadsheet formulas.

Doing spreadsheet math by using only numbers
For example, if you wanted to try to to an easy math problem, using Google Sheets sort of a calculator, you'll type something just like the following into a cell:

=27/3

This will display a solution of "9", within the cell.

Spreadsheet math using cell references
But if you would like you'll also enter the numbers into cells, and do math by pertaining to those cells. A cell reference may be a letter followed by a number… the letter refers to the column, and therefore the number refers to the row. So for instance if you wanted to "refer" to a cell in your formula, you'd type the reference or cell address, which again is that the column letter followed by the row number. therefore the very first cell during a spreadsheet, in column A and row 1, as cell A1.

If you entered the amount "27" into cell A1, and therefore the number "3" into cell B1, you'll use the subsequent formula in the other cell:

=A1/B1

This will also display a solution of "9" within the cell.

Using a mixture of numbers and cell references to try to to math
In many cases you'll want to use cell references and numbers, like this.

=A1/3

This will also give a solution of "9", assuming that the amount "27" is entered into cell A1.

Applying formulas to multiple cells quickly
You will probably want to be ready to apply calculations in your spreadsheet to multiple cells easily and quickly, then i would like to point out you two ways of doing this. (The final examples during this lesson will demonstrate both of those methods with a picture included).

Option 1: After entering a math formula during a cell, copy and paste the cell/formula into the cell(s) below, and therefore the formula are going to be copied into each individual cell. If there are cell references in your formula, they're going to adjust automatically as they're copied into the rows below.

Click here to find out the way to quickly copy formulas down a whole column.

Option 2: you'll also use the ARRAYFORMULA function to form your mathematical formulas apply to multiple cells. With ARRAYFORMULA, you'll apply one formula to multiple cells or a whole column.

How to add in Google Sheets
Let's begin with the various ways to feature in Google Sheets. I'll show you ways to feature by using ordinary numbers, also as by using cell references, then I'll show you ways to feature quite two cells together.

To add in Google Sheets simply type an sign during a cell (=), then type the numbers or cells (reference) that you simply want to feature , separated by a sign (+), then press enter. Here are three samples of addition formulas:

=25+25
=A1+25
=A1+B1
Adding numbers
The formula below doesn't have any cell references, and easily uses plain numbers to try to to math in Google Sheets, quite like employing a calculator.

Pick any cell in your sheet, type the formula below, and ten press enter.

=100+200

The cell should display a solution of "300", as shown below.

An example of adding numbers in Google Sheets, without cell references

Adding cells with numbers
Now let's add by using cell references. rather than typing numbers directly into our formula, this point we are pertaining to cells that have numbers inside them, and telling the formula to feature the numbers that are in those cells.

Follow these steps to feature in Google Sheets:

Click on cell A1, then type the amount "100", then press enter
Click on cell A2, then type the amount "200", then press enter
Click on cell A3, then type "=A1+A2", then press enter
Cell A3 should now display a solution of "300"
Formula shown below: =A1+A2

An example of adding in Google Sheets by pertaining to cells that contain numbers

Adding multiple cells
You can also add quite two cells together in your spreadsheet. Simply continue typing the cell references that you simply want to feature , separated by plus signs, then press enter when your formula is complete.

After typing a sign , or the other mathematical operator for that matter, you'll also click on the cell that you simply want to ask instead of having to type the reference.

Formula shown below: =A1+A2+A3+A4+A5+A6+A7

An example of adding multiple cells in Google Sheets, by pertaining to cells during a single column | Content created by SpreadsheetClass.com

Adding multiple non-adjacent cells
If the cells that you simply are adding together are beat an equivalent column or row, the simplest thanks to add them is by "summing" them, which i will be able to show you in only a moment… but when the cells that you simply are adding aren't adjacent, this is often when adding multiple, individual cells becomes extremely useful.

If your sheet has numbers entered in varying locations that you simply want to feature together, you'll do so by employing a formula like one that's shown within the example below.

Formula utilized in example: =A1+B2+C3

An example of adding multiple cells in Google Sheets, by pertaining to non-adjacent cells from varying columns and rows

Using the ADD function to feature
Using the ADD function to feature is far less common and fewer useful than using the sign operator, but here is an example that shows the way to use it just in case you've got a requirement for it.

Formula shown below: =ADD(100,200)

An example of using the ADD function to feature numbers in Google Sheets

How to sum in Google Sheets
The SUM function is a particularly useful formula which will allow you to sum entire rows, columns, or specified ranges.

To sum in Google Sheets, begin by typing "=Sum(", then type the range of cells that you simply want to sum, for instance "B1:B100", A closing parentheses ")", then press enter.

Let's say that you simply simply have a column of numbers that you want to feature , but you do not want to possess to possess an extended formula that adds many individual cells. this is often where you'd use the SUM function.

To total a whole column during a Google spreadsheet, do either of the following:

Use the cell at the highest of the column to enter a formula like this, which sums all of the cells below it: =SUM(C1:C)
Or use a cell that's below the range that you simply want to sum, and enter a formula that contains the range of cells that are above it. In other words, for instance if your SUM formula is in cell C100, then to sum the numbers in column A that are above your formula, confirm you specify an ending row within the range that's but 100, like this: =SUM(C1:C99)
Formula shown in example image below: =SUM(A1:A7)

A basic example that shows the way to sum in Google Shetes, by using the SUM function to sum a brief list of numbers in column A

Note: If the home in your sum formula contains the cell that your formula is entered in, it'll cause a circular dependency error.