5 Most Useful Excel Functions

In this article, you are going to be introduced to some of the 5 most useful excel functions that every beginner needs to know

1. The SUM Function

The SUM function adds values. You can add individual values, cell references or ranges or a mix of all three.

For example:

• =SUM(A2:A10) Adds the values in cells A2:10.
• =SUM(A2:A10, C2:C10) Adds the values in cells A2:10, as well as cells C2:C10.

2. The TEXT Function

Text function is a useful tool that helps convert a date (or number) into a text string in a particular format. It falls in the category of string formulas that converts numerical values to a string. It is handy when users need to view numeric data in a readable format. Take note that the “TEXT” formula only works to convert numeric values to text. Therefore, its results cannot be calculated.

3. The VLOOKUP Function

VLookup is a powerful Excel function that is often overlooked. Users will find it useful when they need to find specific data on a large table. You can also use VLookup to search for names, phone numbers, or specific data on your sheet. Instead of manually looking for the names and wasting time scrolling through hundreds of data, the VLookup function makes this process faster and more efficient.

The VLookup formula is “=VLOOKUP” (lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, *range_lookup*).

• “lookup_value” is the data you want to find.
• “table_array” is the data column where you want to limit your search.
• “col_index_num” is the column number within the table that you want to return a value from.
• “range_lookup” is an optional argument that allows you to search for the exact match of your lookup value without sorting the table.

4. The AVERAGE Function

The average function is an extremely useful tool for getting the average value in a range of cells. Like the sum function, it is frequently used in computing and analyzing data on spreadsheets. Basically, the average function works to find the “arithmetic mean” for a group of cells. Aside from the average function, Excel also has the median and mode functions.

5. The CONCATENATE Function

This function is a good time saver when you need to combine data from 2 or more cells. Unlike the merge tool which physically merges two or more cells into a single cell, the concatenate function only combines the contents of the combined cells. In the latest version of Excel ( 2016), the concatenate function has been replaced with concat function and will be incorporated in more future versions of Excel.