Reading Formulas

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I need to find out how to read a formula. Is there a place to go on the web or help bar in excel to find out what all the symbols mean?

Formula
=IF(A13>$F$5,0,$C$7*$F$6)
 
Hi Melanie
for your specific formula: It does the following:
- Check if cell A13 is larger than cell F5
- if yes the function return '0'
- if no the function return the result of cell C7 multiplied cell F6

The formula uses relative and abosulte references (the latter indicated
by the sign '$'). If you copy this formula to a different cell you will
notice that these absolute references will not change, the relative
reference A13 though will change.

You may try checking Excel's helpfile first (just goto the help menu
and search for the IF function)
 
Hi Melanie!

The IF function has the syntax:

=IF(logical_test,value_if_true,value_if_false)

So in this case the logical test is:
"is A13>F5"

This test returns TRUE or FALSE. If TRUE it will return 0
If FALSE it returns C7*F6

Now if this formula is copied down the use of absolute referencing
signs $ before both column and row letters of F5 and C7 and F6 will
mean that the formula will always look at those cells. But the use of
the relative reference of A13 means that if it is copied down one cell
the formula will now refer to A14. If copied across on cell it would
refer to B13.

For a discussion of referencing see:

Chip Pearson:
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/relative.htm
--
Regards
Norman Harker MVP (Excel)
Sydney, Australia
(e-mail address removed)
Excel and Word Function Lists (Classifications, Syntax and Arguments)
available free to good homes.
Melanie said:
I need to find out how to read a formula. Is there a place to go on
Click to expand...
the web or help bar in excel to find out what all the symbols mean?
 
Melanie

The On-line help is very useful. Click Help on the Menu
Sytem in Excel and type Formulas. This shows how to enter
formulas from a basic level. You will also need to
understand Operators Addition, subtraction and so on.

basic operator are:
+ addition
- subtraction
* multiplication
/ division
^ power

Comparison operators
greater than
= greater then or equal to
Click to expand...

=IF(A13>$F$5,0,$C$7*$F$6)

If is a conditional function
-----Original Message-----
I need to find out how to read a formula. Is there a
Click to expand...
place to go on the web or help bar in excel to find out
what all the symbols mean?
 
Melanie

The On-line help is very useful. Click Help on the Menu
Sytem in Excel and type Formulas. This shows how to enter
formulas from a basic level. You will also need to
understand Operators Addition, subtraction and so on.

basic operator are:
+ addition
- subtraction
* multiplication
/ division
^ power

Comparison operators
greater than
= greater then or equal to
Click to expand...

=IF(A13>$F$5,0,$C$7*$F$6)

If is a conditional function
-----Original Message-----
I need to find out how to read a formula. Is there a
Click to expand...
place to go on the web or help bar in excel to find out
what all the symbols mean?
 
Melanie

The On-line help is very useful. Click Help on the Menu
Sytem in Excel and type Formulas. This shows how to enter
formulas from a basic level. You will also need to
understand Operators Addition, subtraction and so on.

basic operator are:
+ addition
- subtraction
* multiplication
/ division
^ power

Comparison operators
greater than
= greater then or equal to
Click to expand...

=IF(A13>$F$5,0,$C$7*$F$6)

If is a conditional function
-----Original Message-----
I need to find out how to read a formula. Is there a
Click to expand...
place to go on the web or help bar in excel to find out
what all the symbols mean?
 
Sorry Melanie

I pressed the wrong key
The If formula takes the form If(something is true, do
something, Else do something else
condition, do something if true, do something else
IF(A13>$F$5, 0, $C$7*$F$6)

your formula means
if(A13>F5, 0
Compare the value in A13 with the value in F5. If it is
greater then return 0.

Otherwise Multiply C7 by F6

Regards
Peter
-----Original Message-----
I need to find out how to read a formula. Is there a
Click to expand...
place to go on the web or help bar in excel to find out
what all the symbols mean?
 
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