Arithmetic operators in formulas in Excel - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What symbol is used for addition in Excel formulas?

The plus sign + is used for addition in Excel formulas. For example, =A1 + B1 adds the values in cells A1 and B1.

beginner

How do you multiply two numbers in an Excel formula?

Use the asterisk * symbol to multiply. For example, =A1 * B1 multiplies the values in cells A1 and B1.

beginner

Which operator divides numbers in Excel formulas?

The forward slash / is the division operator. For example, =A1 / B1 divides the value in A1 by the value in B1.

intermediate

What does the caret ^ symbol do in Excel formulas?

The caret ^ is used for exponentiation (power). For example, =A1 ^ 2 squares the value in cell A1.

intermediate

How does Excel handle the order of operations in formulas with multiple arithmetic operators?

Excel follows the standard math order of operations: parentheses first, then exponentiation (^), then multiplication (*) and division (/), and finally addition (+) and subtraction (-). For example, =2 + 3 * 4 equals 14, not 20.

Which operator would you use to subtract one cell value from another in Excel?

A -

B +

C *

D /

The minus sign - is used for subtraction in Excel formulas.

What is the result of the formula =5 + 2 * 3 in Excel?

A 21

B 11

C 16

D 7

Excel multiplies first: 2 * 3 = 6, then adds 5 + 6 = 11.

How do you write a formula to calculate 3 squared in Excel?

A =3 * 2

B =3 + 2

C =3 ^ 2

D =3 / 2

The caret ^ is used for powers. =3 ^ 2 means 3 squared.

Which operator has the highest priority in Excel formulas?

A ^

B -

C *

D +

Exponentiation ^ has higher priority than multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction.

What does the formula = (2 + 3) * 4 calculate first?

A Addition and multiplication at the same time

B 3 * 4

C 2 * 4

D 2 + 3

Parentheses have the highest priority, so Excel calculates 2 + 3 first.

Explain how to use the four basic arithmetic operators in Excel formulas and give an example for each.

Think about how you add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers in real life.

Describe the order of operations Excel follows when calculating formulas with multiple arithmetic operators.

Remember the math rule PEMDAS or BODMAS.