Excel’s mathematical functions are versatile tools that can be applied to a wide range of tasks. Here are some common use cases:
Financial Analysis
- Calculating loan payments: Use the PMT function to determine monthly payments for a loan.
- Projecting future values: Employ the FV function to estimate the future value of an investment.
- Analyzing investment returns: Utilize the IRR and NPV functions to evaluate the profitability of investments.
Data Analysis
- Statistical analysis: Calculate mean, median, mode, standard deviation, and variance using functions like AVERAGE, MEDIAN, MODE, STDEV, and VAR.
- Data normalization: Normalize data to a specific range using functions like MIN, MAX, and the division operator.
- Trend analysis: Use linear regression and other statistical techniques to identify trends and patterns in data.
Engineering and Scientific Calculations
- Trigonometric calculations: Solve problems involving angles, distances, and forces using functions like SIN, COS, TAN, ASIN, ACOS, and ATAN.
- Engineering formulas: Implement complex engineering formulas to calculate stress, strain, and other engineering parameters.
- Scientific modeling: Model physical phenomena using mathematical functions to simulate real-world scenarios.
| Function | Version | Purpose | Arguments |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABS | Excel 2003 | Find the absolute value of a number | number |
| AGGREGATE | Excel 2010 | Return aggregate calculation | function_num options ref1 ref2 … |
| ARABIC | Excel 2013 | Converts a Roman numerals to an Arabic numerals | roman_text |
| BASE | Excel 2013 | Convert number to another base. | number radix min_length |
| CEILING | Excel 2003 | Round a number up to nearest multiple | number significance |
| CEILING.MATH | Excel 2013 | Round a number up to nearest multiple | number significance mode |
| CEILING.PRECISE | Excel 2010 | Round a number up to nearest multiple | number significance |
| COMBIN | Excel 2003 | Get number of combinations without repetitions | number number_chosen |
| COMBINA | Excel 2013 | Get number of combinations with repetitions | number number_chosen |
| DECIMAL | Excel 2013 | Convert a number in a different base to a decimal number | number radix |
| EVEN | Excel 2003 | Round a number up to the next even integer | number |
| EXP | Excel 2003 | Find the value of e raised to the power of a number | number |
| FACT | Excel 2003 | Find the factorial of a number | number |
| FACTDOUBLE | Excel 2003 | Get double factorial of a number | number |
| FLOOR | Excel 2003 | Round a number down to the nearest specified multiple | number significance |
| FLOOR.MATH | Excel 2013 | Round number down to nearest multiple | number significance mode |
| FLOOR.PRECISE | Excel 2010 | Round number down to nearest multiple | number significance |
| GCD | Excel 2003 | Get the greatest common divisor of numbers | number1 number2 … |
| INT | Excel 2003 | Get the integer part of a number by rounding down | number |
| LCM | Excel 2003 | Get the least common multiple of numbers | number1 number2 … |
| LN | Excel 2003 | Get the natural logarithm of a number | number |
| LOG | Excel 2003 | Get the logarithm of a number | number base |
| LOG10 | Excel 2003 | Get the base-10 logarithm of a number | number |
| MDETERM | Excel 2003 | Get matrix determinant of given array | array |
| MINVERSE | Excel 2003 | Get inverse matrix of array | array |
| MMULT | Excel 2003 | Perform matrix multiplication | array1 array2 |
| MOD | Excel 2003 | Get the remainder from division | number divisor |
| MROUND | Excel 2003 | Round a number to the nearest specified multiple | number significance |
| MUNIT | Excel 2013 | Return unit matrix for a given dimension | dimension |
| ODD | Excel 2003 | Round a number up to the next odd integer | number |
| PI | Excel 2003 | Get the value of π | |
| POWER | Excel 2003 | Raise a number to a power | number power |
| PRODUCT | Excel 2003 | Get the product of supplied numbers | number1 number2 … |
| QUOTIENT | Excel 2003 | Returns the quotient without a remainder. | numerator denominator |
| RAND | Excel 2003 | Get a random number between 0 and 1 | |
| RANDBETWEEN | Excel 2003 | Get a random integer between two values | bottom top |
| ROMAN | Excel 2003 | Converts numbers to Roman numerals | number form |
| ROUND | Excel 2003 | Round a number to a given number of digits | number num_digits |
| ROUNDDOWN | Excel 2003 | Round down to given number of digits | number num_digits |
| ROUNDUP | Excel 2003 | Round a number up to a given number of digits | number num_digits |
| SIGN | Excel 2003 | Get the sign of a number | number |
| SQRT | Excel 2003 | Find the positive square root of a number | number |
| SUBTOTAL | Excel 2003 | Get a subtotal in a list or database | function_num ref1 ref2 … |
| SUM | Excel 2003 | Add numbers together | number1 number2 number3 … |
| SUMIF | Excel 2003 | Sum cells in a range that meet criteria | range criteria sum_range |
| SUMIFS | Excel 2007 | Sum cells in a range that meet criteria | sum_range range1 criteria1 range2 criteria2 … |
| SUMPRODUCT | Excel 2003 | Multiply, then sum arrays | array1 array2 … |
| SUMSQ | Excel 2003 | Get sum of squares of supplied values | number1 number2 … |
| SUMX2MY2 | Excel 2003 | Sum of difference of squares in two arrays | array_x array_y |
| SUMX2PY2 | Excel 2003 | Get sum of squares in two arrays | array_x array_y |
| SUMXMY2 | Excel 2003 | Sum of squares of differences in two arrays | array_x array_y |
| TRUNC | Excel 2003 | Truncate a number to a given precision | number num_digits |