definition of a formula and function?

  • Thread starter Thread starter showsomeidnow
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showsomeidnow

i tried doing a search for this but am still unclear. if i have the
following for example:
=sum(A1+A2)

is SUM the function and (A1+A2) the formula? or is that too
simplistic.


Also, regarding variables if i have a list of, say, pupil data and a
convert this into a percentage is the pupil data INPUT variable and
the percentage(s) OUTPUT variable? again, is that too simplistic a way
of looking at things. thanks all.
 
A better example would be

=Sum(A1+A2) * Sum(A3-A4)

In the above situation there is one formula (which is the whole line) and
two functions. Sum is the function. Anything beginning with the "=" sign is
a formula.

Your definition of input and output is reasonable.
 
thank you kindly - that's a brilliant definition and cleared things up
for me. yes, i know that the output variable could also be a graph or
spreadsheet table for example. i was just unclear as to what
calculating the percentages of data might be (output variable
possibly?). thanks again for your help.
 
The entire thing is a formula.

When adding two cells as per your example you don't need the SUM function.

=A1+A2 is sufficient.

Use the SUM function for ranges.

=SUM(A1:A10)

=SUM(A1,D1,G1,L23)


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP
 
the entire equation is the formula, you are using the
SUM Worksheet Function, which is a builtin function.

You most have been using Lotus 1-2-3 or something
because all you should be using is =A1+A2
(which would add two items in the same column)

If you installed a function as opposed to being a
builtin function that comes with Excel, it would also
be a function but would more correctly be identified
as a User Defined Function (UDF).

To give you an idea of a UDF see GetFormula on
my http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/formula.htm
webpage. The instructions to install are at the top
of that page, but basically you might start at
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm#havemacro
if you have a macro or function code to be installed.

When you start installing macros and functions
you might want to check over Chip Pearson's page
on the difference between a Macro and a Function
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/differen.htm

Second part of your question:
Concerning INPUT and OUTPUT variables, I think you
have been shown some macro coding (VBA), though
those are not terms I've seen because that would be
usage rather they a types of variable.

I see in Google Groups archives that you have replies
none of which I see in my newsreader (OE), this seems
to happen more often for those who post original message
from Google Groups rather than connecting directly to the
newsgroup servers at Microsoft, where these groups
reside. The replies I see only in GG are olne from Dom Ciccone,
one from yourself, and one from Gord Dibben all on May 5
(at least in my time zone). I see other threads from you
that all have replies.

The thread as seen in archives
http://groups.google.com/groups?threadm=1178360312.662120.80470@n59g2000hsh.googlegroups.com

Posting directly to Microsoft newsgroups:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/posting.htm#postdirect
 
David McRitchie, thanks for your help here. re variables (inputs and
outputs) i was no so much talking about macros but more in the
generic. for example some would say a graph is an 'output' of some
pupil data say. but imagine i had some data in column A and in columnB
converted this into a percentage - could the percentage(s) be
considered an 'output' also? thanks for all your help.
 
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