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Hello Louise,

Hope you enjoyed your Microsoft Excel Introduction course with Best STL.

Thank you for your question regarding breaking down a formula to get the correct answer. In order to know how to create formulas with greater understanding it is essential to know the order in which Excel does the calculations.

Excel performs calculations in a specific order.

First, anything inside a set of round brackets is calulated and stored.

Secondly, Excel will look for any exponents in your formula and take the stored result from the first calculation and perform the exponent calculation which is then stored.

Thirdly, Excel will take the latest stored value and calculate any divisions and/or multiplications (in any order) and store the result.

Finally, Excel will take the latest stored value and calculate any additions and/or subtractions which become the final result which goes into a cell where you are entering the formula.

There are times when you need to add some data together before multiplying or dividing by another value. Since adding is in the fourth position you have to let Excel know that the addition calculation must be done first. To achieve this all you have to do is put round brackets on either side of the cell references being added. Excel will calculate this first and then perform the multiplication or division.

I have attached a file with explanations and a couple of examples which should help you understand the order of calculations.


I hope this resolves your question. If it has, please mark this question as resolved.

If you require further assistance, please reply to this post. Or perhaps you have another Microsoft Office question?

Have a great day.
Regards,

Rodney
Microsoft Office Specialist Trainer