
To calculate the percent phone cards are of the total requests, see the formula in cell F2, which is =E2/$E$9. This can be done by right-clicking on the F in Column F to highlight the whole column, then selecting the % button from the Home Ribbon. To show an absolute cell reference, let’s look at what percent of the total requests each item represents.įirst, change the style in Column F to the Percent Style. Adding ‘$’ in front of the column letter and row number of a cell reference will make it an absolute reference. Even if the formula is copied to another cell, the cell reference in the formula will not change. If a cell contains a formula with an absolute cell reference, that cell reference stays absolutely still. Now it’s time to discuss absolute cell references. While in E7, the formula =SUM(B7:D7) references cells B7, C7 and D7. In E2, the formula =SUM(B2:D2) references cells B2, C2 and D2. If you compare the formulas in cells E2 and E7 from the example above, you will notice that the formula is the same except for one small difference. The example above shows relative cell references because the formula in E2 changed its cell references in the different rows of Column E to reflect cells in each row. The most common type of cell reference is a relative cell reference. This technique will improve your data quality by lessening the chance of errors typing the same formula repeatedly. A formula counting the items in all three months will populate down Column E. Left-click in the bottom right corner of cell E2, then continue to hold down the left click until the mouse is dragged down to E7. Pro Tip: A formula can be copied down a row or across a column.


It determines the total number of phone cards requested during the quarter by adding together the requests in April ( B2), May ( C2) and June ( D2).īut if there are more requested items than phone cards, what is the best way to add a formula to the rows with the other items? In the example below, the formula in cell E2 references cells B2, C2 and D2.

In Excel, if you write a formula in a cell, it is common for it to contain a cell reference, which means the formula points to a value in one or more other cells.
