An application tutorial for Excel functions: Concepts of functions and formulas

What is a function?

　　Excel functions are predefined, and perform calculations, analyses, and other special formulas for processing data tasks . Take the commonly used SUM function sum as an example, its syntax is "SUM (Number1,number2,......)". where "SUM" is called a function name, a function has only one name, which determines the function and purpose of the function. The function name is followed by an opening parenthesis, followed by a comma-separated content called a parameter, and a closing parenthesis is used to indicate the end of the function.

The parameter is the most complex part of the function, which stipulates the Operation object, order or structure of the function. Allows the user to deal with a cell or region, such as the analysis of deposit interest, the determination of grades, the calculation of trigonometric values.

According to the source of the function, Excel functions can be divided into two broad categories: built-in functions and extension functions. The former can be used only if you start Excel, and the latter must be loaded by clicking the tools → add-ins menu command before you can use it as a built-in function.

What is a formula?

Functions and formulas are both different and interrelated. If the former is an Excel predefined special formula, the latter is the user's own design of the worksheet calculation and processing of the formula.

Take the formula "=sum (E1:H1) *a1+26" as an example, it starts with the equal sign "=", and its interior can include functions, references, operators, and constants. "SUM (E1:H1)" In the formula is a function, "A1 is a reference to cell A1 (using the data stored in it)," 26 "is a constant, and" * "and" + "are arithmetic operators (in addition to comparison operators, text operators, and reference operators).

If a function is to appear as a formula, it must have two components, one is the equal sign before the function name, and the other is the function itself.