Course / Spreadsheet Basics

Cells, values and your first formula

Find your way around the grid, type values, and write a formula that updates itself. Beginner · 3 min · Cells, Formulas, Recalculation

A spreadsheet is a grid of cells. Each cell has an address made of its column letter and row number, so the cell in column B, row 3 is B3.

You can type text, numbers or formulas into a cell. A formula always starts with = and tells Excel how to work out the cell's value.

Steps

1. Coffee costs 8. Click B4, type 8 and press Enter.

2. Label the bottom row. Type Total into A5.

3. Now the magic part. In B5, type =B2+B3+B4 and press Enter. Every formula starts with an equals sign.

4. Milk just went up in price. Change B3 to 3 and watch the total in B5 update by itself.

Remember

• Cells are named by column and row, like B5.
• Text aligns left, numbers align right.
• Formulas start with = and update when their inputs change.

Next: Arithmetic with cell references