Chapter 10: Introducing Formulas and Functions
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l (^) Choose Formulas ➪ Function Library ➪ Insert Function.
l Use the Insert Function command, which appears at the bottom of each drop-down list in
the Formulas ➪ Function Library group.
l Click the Insert Function icon, which is directly to the left of the Formula bar. This button
displays fx.
l Press Shift+F3.
FIGURE 10.5
The Insert Function dialog box.
The Insert Function dialog box shows a drop-down list of function categories. Select a category,
and the functions in that category are displayed in the list box. To access a function that you
recently used, select Most Recently Used from the drop-down list.
If you’re not sure which function you need, you can search for the appropriate function by using
the Search for a Function field at the top of the dialog box.
- Enter your search terms and click Go. You get a list of relevant functions. When you
select a function from the Select a Function list, Excel displays the function (and its argu-
ment names) in the dialog box along with a brief description of what the function does. - When you locate the function you want to use, highlight it and click OK. Excel then
displays its Function Arguments dialog box, as shown in Figure 10.6. - Specify the arguments for the function. The Function Arguments dialog box will vary,
depending on the function you’re inserting, and it will show one text box for each of the
function’s arguments. To use a cell or range reference as an argument, you can enter the
address manually or click inside the argument box and then select (that is, point to) the
cell or range in the sheet. - After you specify all the function arguments, click OK.