Spreadsheets are applications programs. They are worksheets, which use a rectangular grid or table format made up of rows and columns. They provide automatic calculations of numbers and can produce graphs to display information visually. Although spreadsheets use the familiar mathematical operations like addition and multiplication, the symbols may not be familiar to you. Computers use the following symbols.
- + For addition
- – For subtraction
- * For Multiplication
- / For division
- ^ For a power
A formula includes one or more mathematical operations and cell references.
A spreadsheet will require you to type in a special symbol to indicate that you are going to key in a formula. This symbol is = EG: =B3+B6
=C8*C9