9.2. Creating and using basic formulas: Entering and formatting data

9.2 Creating and Using Basic Formulas: Data Insertion and Formatting

Creating and using basic formulas in Google Sheets are fundamental skills for anyone who wants to make the most of the features of this powerful spreadsheet tool. Formulas are expressions that perform calculations or other operations on data in a spreadsheet. Mastering basic formulas and understanding how to correctly enter and format data can transform a simple table of numbers into dynamic, informative data analysis.

Data Insertion

Before diving into the formulas, it's important to understand how to enter data into Google Sheets. Data can be numbers, texts, dates or times and can be entered directly into a cell. To enter data, simply select the desired cell and start typing. Pressing Enter or Tab moves the cursor to the next cell, allowing you to enter data quickly and efficiently.

Data Formatting

Data formatting is crucial to make information easier to read and interpret. Google Sheets offers several formatting options, such as:

• Number formatting: You can format numbers as currency, percentage, decimal and other numeric formats.
• Formatting dates and times: Dates and times can be formatted in different styles, making it easier to organize and understand schedules and agendas.
• Text styles: Change the font, size, color and style (bold, italic, underline) to highlight important information.
• Cell Alignment: Align cell contents left, right, centered, or justified to improve spreadsheet aesthetics.
• Conditional formatting: Use rules to automatically format cells based on their values, which is great for highlighting trends and exceptions.

To access formatting options, select the desired cells and use the toolbar or the Format menu at the top of the screen.

Creation of Basic Formulas

Formulas in Google Sheets always start with the equal sign (=). After this sign, you can add numbers, cell references, and functions to create your formula. Here are some examples of basic formulas:

• Sum: =SUM(A1:A10) adds all numbers in the range A1 to A10.
• Subtraction: =A1-A2 subtracts the value in A2 from the value in A1.
• Multiplication: =A1*A2 multiplies the values ​​in A1 and A2.
• Division: =A1/A2 divides the value in A1 by the value in A2.
• Average: =AVERAGE(A1:A10) calculates the average of the numbers in the range A1 to A10.

Formulas can be as simple as a sum of two numbers or as complex as necessary, combining multiple functions and cell references.

Using Cell References

Cell references are used to indicate which cells should be included in a formula. There are three main types of references:

• Relative References: If you copy and paste a formula with relative references, the references will change based on where the formula was moved. For example, the formula =A1+B1 will become =A2+B2 if copied to the line below.
• Absolute References: Using the dollar sign symbol ($), you can fix a cell reference so that it does not change when you copy the formula. For example, =$A$1+B1 will always refer to cell A1, no matter where the formula is copied.
• Mixed References: By combining relative and absolute references, you can fix just the column or the row. For example, =$A1+B1 only fixes column A, but the row is relative.

Common Errors in Formulas

Mistakes are common when working with formulas, especially for beginners. Here are some of the most frequent errors:

• #DIV/0!: Occurs when a formula attempts to divide a number by zero.
• #NAME?: Indicates that Google Sheets does not recognize text in the formula, usually due to a typo in a function.
• #VALUE!: Happens when a formula contains an incorrect or incompatible argument type.
• #REF!: Appears when a formula refers to a cell that no longer exists, usually after deleting a cell or row that was being referenced.

When you find an error, Google Sheets usually provides adescription of the problem and suggestions for correcting it. Paying attention to these messages can help you avoid common mistakes and improve your formula creation skills.

Conclusion

Understanding how to enter and format data, as well as how to create and use basic formulas, is essential for any Google Sheets user. With practice, these skills will become second nature, allowing you to manipulate and analyze data effectively and efficiently. Remember, experimentation and continued practice are the keys to mastering formulas in Google Sheets.