Excel functions are the secret sauce that turns a simple spreadsheet into a powerful data analysis tool.

This chapter will introduce you to some of the most common and versatile functions: SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, and COUNT.

We'll also explore how to use the AutoSum feature, combine functions for complex calculations, and handle error checking in formulas.

Key Points

• The SUM function add up a range of numbers, perfect for calculating totals;
• The AVERAGE function finds the average value in a range, ignoring empty cells and text;
• The MAX function identifies the largest number in a range;
• The MIN function finds the smallest number in a range;
• The COUNT function tallies the number of cells that contain numbers in a range;
• AutoSum quickly adds up a range of cells and can also be used for AVERAGE, COUNT, MAX, and MIN;
• You can combine functions to perform more complex calculations;
• Excel has multiple Error Checking tools for you to utilise.