IT APPLICATION TOOLS IN BUSINESS

TOP 50
USEFUL
EXCEL
FORMULAS
BY SHEENA DENISE D. ASUNCION

LADY OF LOURDES COLLEGE OF CAYBIGA 19 NOV 2023

1. SUM (Math & Trig)
Syntax : SUM(number1, [number2], …)
Description : Adds all the numbers in a range of cells.

Function Arguments
number1 : are 1 to 255 numbers to sum. Logical values and text are ignored in cells,
included if typed as arguments
number2 : are 1 to 255 numbers to sum. Logical values and text are ignored in cells,
included if typed as arguments

2. AVERAGE (Math & Trig)

Syntax : AVERAGE(number1, [number2], …)
Description : Returns the average (arithmetic mean) of its arguments, which can be numbers
or names, arrays, or references that contain numbers.

Function Arguments
number1 : are 1 to 255 numeric arguments for which you want the average
number2 : are 1 to 255 numeric arguments for which you want the average

3. COUNT (Math & Trig)

Syntax : COUNT(value1, [value2], …)
Description : Count the number of cells in a range that contain numbers.

Function Arguments
value1 : are 1 to 255 arguments that can contain or refer to a variety of different types of
data, but only numbers are counted
value2 : are 1 to 255 arguments that can contain or refer to a variety of different types of
data, but only numbers are counted

4. PRODUCT (Math & Trig)

Syntax : PRODUCT(number1, [number2], …)
Description : Multiples all the numbers given as arguments.

Function Arguments
number1 : are 1 to 255 numbers, logical values, or text representations of numbers that you
want to multiply
number2 : are 1 to 255 numbers, logical values, or text representations of numbers that you
want to multiply

5. SUBTOTAL (Math & Trig)

Syntax : SUBTOTAL(function_num, ref1, …)
Description : Returns a subtotal in a list or database.

Function Arguments
function_num : is the number 1 to 11 that specifies the summary function for the subtotal.
ref1 : are 1 to 254 ranges or references for which you want the subtotal

6. MOD (Math & Trig)

Syntax : MOD(number, divisor)
Description : Returns the remainder after a number is divided by a divisor.
Function Arguments
number : is the number for which you want to find the remainder after the division is
performed
divisor : is the number by which you want to divide Number
7. MAX (Math & TRIG)
Syntax : MAX(number1,[number2], …)
Description : Returns the largest value in a set of values. Ignores logical values and text.

Function Arguments
number1 : are 1 to 255 numbers, empty cells, logical values, or text numbers for which you
want the maximum
number2 : are 1 to 255 numbers, empty cells, logical values, or text numbers for which you
want the maximum

8. POWER (Math & Trig)

Syntax : POWER(number, power)
Description : Returns the result of a number raised to be a power.

Function Arguments
number : is the base number, any real number
power : is the exponent, to which the base number is raised

9. MIN (Math & Trig)

Syntax : MIN(number1,[number2], …)
Description : Returns the smallest number in a set of values. Ignores logical values and text.

Function Arguments
number1 : are 1 to 255 numbers, empty cells, logical values, or text numbers for which you
want the minimum
number2 : are 1 to 255 numbers, empty cells, logical values, or text numbers for which you
want the minimum

10. CEILING (Math & Trig)

Syntax : CEILING(number, significance)
Description : Rounds a number up to the nearest multiple significance.

Function Arguments
number : is the value you want to round
significance : is the multiple to which you want to round

11. FLOOR (Math & Trig)

Syntax : FLOOR(number, significance)
Description : Rounds a number down to the nearest multiple of significance.

Function Arguments
number : is the numeric value you want to round
significance : is the multiple to which you want to round. Number and Significance must either
both be positive or both be negative

12. IF (Math & Trig)

Syntax : IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])
Description : Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another
value if FALSE.

Function Arguments
logical_test : is any value or expression that can be evaluated to TRUE or FALSE
value_if_true : is the value that is returned if Logical_test is TRUE. If omitted, TRUE is returned.
You can nest up to seven IF functions
value_is_false is the value that is returned if Logical_test is FALSE. If omitted, FALSE is returned.
13. VLOOKUP (Math & Trig)
Syntax : VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])
Description : Looks for a valur in the leftmost column of a table, and then returns a value in
the same row from a column you specify. By default, the table must be sorted in
ascending order.

Function Arguments
lookup_value : is the value to be found in the first column of the table, and can be a value, a
reference, or a text string
table_array : is a table of text, numbers, or logical values, in which data is retrieved.
Table_array can be a reference to a range or a range name
col_index_num is the column number in table_array from which the matching value should be
returned. The first column of values in the table is column 1
range_lookup is a logical value, to find the closest match in the first column (sorted in
ascending order) = TRUE or omitted; find an exact match = FALSE

14. CONCATENATE (Math & Trig)

Syntax : CONCATENATE(text1, [text2], …)
Description : Joins several strings into one text string.

Function Arguments
text1 : are 1 to 255 text strings to be joined into a single text string and can be text
strings, numbers, or single-cell references
text2 : are 1 to 255 text strings to be joined into a single text string and can be text
strings, numbers, or single-cell references

15. LEN (Math & Trig)

Syntax : LEN (text)
Description : Returns the numbers of characters in a text string.

Function Arguments
text : is the text whose length you want to find. Spaces count as characters

16. TODAY (Math & Trig)

Syntax : TODAY()
Description : Returns the current date formatted as a date.

17. REPLACE (Math & Trig)

Syntax : REPLACE(old_text, start_num, num_chars, new_text)
Description : Replaces part of a text string with a different text string.

Function Arguments
old_text : is text in which you want to replace some characters
start_num : is the position of the character in old_text that you want to replace with
new_text
num_chars : is the number of characters in old_text that you want to replace
new_text : is the text that will replace characters in old_text

18. TRIM (Math & Trig)

Syntax : TRIM(text)
Description : Removes all spaces from a text string except for single spaces between words.

Function Arguments
text : is the text from which you want spaces removed

19. SUBSTITUTE (Math & Trig)

Syntax : SUBSTITUTE(text, old_text, new_text, [instance_num])
Description : Replaces existing text with new text in a text string.

Function Arguments
text : is the text or the reference to a cell containing text which you want to subsitute
characters
old_text : is the existing text you want to replace. If the case of old_text does not match
the case of text, SUBSTITUTE will not replace the text.
new_text : is the text you want to replace old_text with
instance_num : specifies which occurrence of old_text you want to replace. If omitted, every
instance of old_text is replaced

20. LEFT (Math & Trig)

Syntax : LEFT(text, [num_chars])
Description : Returns the specified number of characters from the start of a text string.

Function Arguments
text : is the text string containing the characters you want to extract
num_chars : specifies how many characters you want LEFT to extract; 1 if omitted

21. RIGHT (Math & Trig)

Syntax : RIGHT(text, [num_chars])
Description : Returns the specified number of characters from the end of a text string.

Function Arguments
text : is the text string containing the characters you want to extract
num_chars : specifies how many characters you want to extract; 1 if omitted

22. MID (Math & Trig)

Syntax : MID(text, start_num, num_chars)
Description : Returns the characters from the middle of a text string, given a starting position
and length.

Function Arguments
text : is the text string from which you want to extract the characters
start_num : is the position of the first character you want to extract. The first character in
Text is 1
num_chars : specifies how many characters you want to return from Text
23. UPPER (Math & Trig)
Syntax : UPPER(text)
Description : Converts a text string to all uppercase letters.

Function Arguments
text : is the text you want converted to uppercase, a reference or a text string

24. LOWER (Math & Trig)

Syntax : LOWER(text)
Description : Converts all letters in a text string to lowercase.

Function Arguments
text : is the text you want converted to lowercase. Characters in text that are not
letters are not changed

25. PROPER (Math & Trig)

Syntax : PROPER(text)
Description : Converts a text string to proper case; the first letter in each word to uppercase,
and all other letters to lowercase.

Function Arguments
text : is text enclosed in quotation marks, a formula that returns text, or a reference to
a cell containing text to partially capitalize

26. NOW (Math & Trig)

Syntax : NOW()
Description : Returns the current date and time formatted as a date and time.

27. TIME (Math & Trig)

Syntax : TIME(hour, minute, second)
Description : Converts hours, minutes, and seconds given as numbers to an Excel serial
number, formatted with a time format.

Function Arguments
hour : is a number from 0 to 23 representing the hour
minute : is a number from 0 to 59 representing the minute
second : is a number from 0 to 59 representing the second

28. HOUR (Math & Trig)

Syntax : HOUR(serial_number)
Description : Returns the hour as a number from 0 (12:00 A.M.) to 23 (11:00 P.M.).

Function Arguments
serial_number : is a number in the date-time code used by Microsoft Excel, or text in time
format; such as 16:48:00 or 4:48:00 PM

29. MINUTE (Math & Trig)

Syntax : MINUTE(serial_number)
Description : Returns the minute, a number from 0 to 59.
Function Arguments
serial_number : is a number in the date-time code used by Microsoft Excel, or text in time
format; such as 16:48:00 or 4:48:00 PM

30. SECOND (Math & Trig)

Syntax : SECOND(serial_number)
Description : Returns the second, a number from 0 to 59.

Function Arguments
serial_number : is a number in the date-time code used by Microsoft Excel, or text in time
format; such as 16:48:23 or 4:48:47 PM

31. ROUND (Math & Trig)

Syntax : ROUND(number, num_digits)
Description : Rounds a number to a specified number of digits.

Function Arguments
number : is the number you want to round
num_digits : is the number of digits to which you want to round. Negative rounds to the left
of the decimal point; zero to the nearest integer
32. COUNTIF (Math & Trig)
Syntax : COUNTIF(range, criteria)
Description : Counts the number of cells within a range that meet the given condition.

Function Arguments
range : is the range of cells from which you want to count nonblank cells
criteria : is the condition in the form of a number, expression, or text that defines which
cells be counted

33. AVERAGEIF (Math & Trig)

Syntax : AVERAGEIF(range, criteria, [average_range])
Description : Finds average (arithmetic mean) for the cells specified by a given condition or
criteria.

Function Arguments
range : is the range of cells you want evaluated
criteria : is the condition or criteria in the form of a number, expression, or text that
defines which cells will be used to find the average
average_range : are the actual cells to be used to find the average. If omitted, the cells in range
are used

34. IFERROR (Math & Trig)

Syntax : IFERROR(value, value_if_error)
Description : Returns value_if_error if expression is an error and the value of the expression
itself otherwise.

Function Arguments
value : is any value or expression or reference
value_if_error : is any value or expression or reference
35. INDEX (Math & Trig)
Syntax : INDEX(…)
Description : Returns a value or reference of the cell at the intersection of a particular row and
column, in a given range.

Function Arguments
array : is a range of cells or an array constant
row_num : selects the row in array or reference from which to return a value. If omitted,
column_num is required
column_num : selects the column in array or reference from which to return a value. If omitted,
row_num is required

reference : is a reference to one or more cell ranges

row_num : selects the row in array or reference from which to return a value. If omitted,
column_num is required
column_num : selects the column in array or reference from which to return a value. If omitted,
row_num is required
area_num : selects a range in reference from which to return a value. The first area selected
or entered is area 1, the second area is area 2, and so on

36. MATCH (Math & Trig)

Syntax : MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_array, [match_type])
Description : Returns the relative position of an item in an array that matches a specified value
in a specified order.

Function Arguments
lookup_value : is the value you use to find the value you want in the array, a number, text, or
logical value, or a reference to one of these
lookup_array : is a contiguous range of cells containing possible lookup values, an array of
values, or a reference to an array
match_type : is a number 1, 0, or -1 indicating which value to return

37. HLOOKUP (Math & Trig)

Syntax : HLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, [range_lookup])
Description : Looks for a value in the top row of a table or array of values and returns the
value in the same column from a row you specify.

Function Arguments
lookup_value : is the value to be found in the first row of the table and can be a value, a
reference, or a text string
table_array : is a table of text, numbers, or logical values in which data is looked up.
Table_array can be a reference to a range or a range name
row_index_num : is the row number In table_array from which the matching value should be
returned. The first row of values in the table is row 1
range_lookup : is a logical value: to find the closest match in the top row (sorted in ascending
order) = TRUE or omitted; find an exact match = FALSE

38. INDIRECT (Math & Trig)

Syntax : INDIRECT (ref_text, [a1])
Description : Returns the reference specified by a text string.
Function Arguments
ref_text : is a reference to a cell that contains an A1- or R1C1- style reference, a name
defined as reference, or a reference to a cell as a text string
a1 : is a logical value that specifies the type of reference in ref_text: R1C1= style =
FALSE; A1= style = TRUE or omitted

39. TEXT (Math & Trig)

Syntax : TEXT (value, format_text)
Description : Converts a value to text in a specific number format.

Function Arguments
value : is a number, a formula that evaluates to a numeric value, or a reference to a
cell containing a numeric value
format_text : is a number format in text from the category box on the number tab in the
format cells dialog box

40. NETWORKDAYS (Math & Trig)

Syntax : NETWORKDAYS (start_date, end_date, [holidays])
Description : Returns the number of whole workdays between two dates.

Function Arguments
start_date : is a serial date number that represents the start date
end_date : is a serial date number that represents the end date
holidays : is an optional set of one or more serial date numbers to exclude from the
working calendar, such as state and federal holidays and floating holidays

41. RAND (Math & Trig)

Syntax : RAND ()
Description : Returns a random number greater than or equal to 0 and less than 1, evenly
distributed (changes on recalculation).

42. RANDBETWEEN (Math & Trig)

Syntax : RANDBETWEEN (bottom, top)
Description : Returns a random number between the numbers you specify.

Function Arguments
bottom : is the smallest integer RANDBETWEEN will return
top : is the largest integer RANDBETWEEN will return

43. SUBTOTAL (Math & Trig)

Syntax : SUBTOTAL(function_num, ref1, …)
Description : Returns a subtotal in a list or database.

Function Arguments
function_num : is the number 1 to 11 that specifies the summary function for the subtotal
ref1 : are 1 to 254 ranges or references for which you want the subtotal

44. TRANSPOSE (Math & Trig)

Syntax : TRANSPOSE(array)
Description : Converts a vertical range of cells to a horizontal range, or vice versa.
Function Arguments
array : is a range of cells on a worksheet or an array of values that you want to
transpose

45. WEEKDAY (Math & Trig)

Syntax : WEEKDAY(serial_number, [return_type])
Description : Returns to a number from 1 to 7 identifying the day of the week of a date.

Function Arguments
serial_number : is a number that represents a date
return_type : is a number: for Sunday= 1 through Saturday= 7, use 1; for Monday= 1 through
Sunday= 7, use 2; for Monday=0 through Sunday=6, use 3

46. EOMONTH (Math & Trig)

Syntax : EOMONTH(start_date, months)
Description : Returns the serial number of the last day of the month before or after a specified
number of months.

Function Arguments
start_date : is a serial date number that represents the start date
months : is the number of months before or after the start_date

47. PMT (Math & Trig)

Syntax : PMT(rate, nper, pv, [fv], [type])
Description : Calculates the payment for a loan based on a constant payments and a constant
interest rate.

Function Arguments
rate : is the interest rate per period for the loan. For example, use 6%/4 for quarterly
payments at 6% APR
nper : is the total number of payments for the loan
pv : is the present value: the total amount that a series of future payments is worth
now
fv : is the future value, or a cash balance you want to attain after the last payment
is made. 0 (zero) if omitted
type : is a logical value: payment at the beginning of the period = 1; payment at the
end of the period - 0 or omitted

48. FV (Math & Trig)

Syntax : FV(rate, nper, pmt, [pv], [type])
Description : Returns the future value of an investment based on periodic constant payments
and a constant interest rate.

Function Arguments
rate : is the interest rate per period for the loan. For example, use 6%/4 for quarterly
payments at 6% APR
nper : is the total number of payment periods in the investment
pmt : is the payment made each period; it cannot change over the life of the
investment
pv : is the present value, or the lump-sum amount that a series of future payments
is worth now. If omitted, pv = 0
type : is a value representing the timing of payment; payment at the beginning of the
period = 1; payment at the end of the period = 0 or omitted

49. PV (Math & Trig)

Syntax : PV(rate, nper, pmt, [fv], [type])
Description : Returns the future value of an investment based on periodic constant payments
and a constant interest rate.

Function Arguments
rate : is the interest rate per period for the loan. For example, use 6%/4 for quarterly
payments at 6% APR
nper : is the total number of payment periods in the investment
pmt : is the payment made each period and cannot change over the life of the
investment
fv : is the future value, or a cash balance you want to attain after the last payment
is made
type : is a logical value: payment at the beginning of the period = 1; payment at the
end of the period = 0 or omitted

50. NPV (Math & Trig)

Syntax : NPV(rate, value1, [value2], …)
Description : Returns the net present value of an investment based on a discount rate and a
series of future payments (negative values) and income (positive values)

Function Arguments
rate : is the rate of discount over the length of one period
value1 : are 1 to 254 payments and income, equally spaced in time and occuring at the
end of each period