What are the basic Excel formulas everyone should know?

Excel is a powerful tool not just for data entry but also for mathematical calculations. Whether you're a student or a professional, learning basic Excel formulas saves time and reduces manual errors. Here are the essential formulas every beginner and intermediate user should master:

1. SUM Formula:

• Syntax: =SUM(A1:A10)
• Use: Quickly calculates the sum of a range of cells.

2. AVERAGE Formula:

• Syntax: =AVERAGE(B1:B10)
• Use: Calculates the average (arithmetic mean) of a range of numbers.

3. IF Formula (Conditional Logic):

• Syntax: =IF(condition, value_if_true, value_if_false)
• Use: Helps make logical decisions, e.g., grading students or financial thresholds.

4. COUNT Formula:

• Syntax: =COUNT(A1:A100)
• Use: Counts the number of numeric values in a range.

5. VLOOKUP (Vertical Lookup):

• Syntax: =VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])
• Use: Finds values in large data tables by matching a key column.

6. CONCATENATE or CONCAT Formula:

• Syntax: =CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1) or =CONCAT(A1, " ", B1)
• Use: Combines text from multiple cells into one.

7. MAX & MIN:

• Syntax: =MAX(A1:A10), =MIN(A1:A10)
• Use: Quickly finds the largest and smallest numbers in a dataset.