Formulas are equations that perform calculations on values in your worksheet. A formula always starts with an equal sign (=).
You can create a simple formula by using constants and calculation operators. Simple formulas can include values you enter, cell references, or names you have defined. For example, =A1+A2 or =5+2 are simple formulas that add the values in cells A1 and A2 or the values that you specify.
You can also create a formula by using a function. For example, the formulas =SUM(A1:A2) and SUM(A1,A2) both use the SUM function to add the values in cells A1 and A2. In addition to formulas that use a single function, you can create formulas with nested functions or arrays that calculate single or multiple results.
NOTE This article provides procedures for creating different formulas. For examples of formulas, see Examples of commonly used formulas. For more information about deleting or removing formulas, see Delete or remove a formula.