New Training: Formulas and Functions

In this 9-video skill, CBT Nuggets trainer Simona Millham takes you through using the mathematical operators, and examples of some of the Google Sheets built-in functions. Watch this new training.

Watch the full course: Google Sheets

This training includes:

• 9 videos

• 1.1 hours of training

You’ll learn these topics in this skill:

• Introduction

• Mathematical Calculations

• Percentages

• Absolute Cell Referencing

• Introducing Functions

• If Statements

• VLOOKUP

• Text Functions

• Date and Time Calculations

How to Use Google Sheets to Calculate Data

Much like Excel, Google Sheets has built-in functions to process data with both native commands and non-native macro capabilities. These functions can be for something as simple as adding multiple pieces of data together to finding data based on complex queries.

For example, native commands include things like SUM and VLOOKUP. Using built-in commands is easy. In any cell in Google Sheets, start by entering the equal sign into that cell. After the equal sign, enter the command you wish to use.

Example: =sum(a1:a5)

That example above will add the data stored in cells A1 through A5 together. As you type in a command, Google Sheets will auto list a set of suggested commands that match what you are typing in. This is a good way to help find commands as well.

Google also offers a way to create macros for Google Sheets for more complex algorithms, too. Unlike Excel which uses Visual Basic, Google Sheets uses Javascript for programming macros. This does make creating Macros both more powerful and more complicated in Google Sheets.