How to Use an Excel Equation

Basic Equation Entry
1. Launch Microsoft Excel 2010.
2. Activate the software over the Internet if prompted.
3. Click in any blank cell and type the number '15' into the cell and press 'Enter' to save the entry and move to another cell. Alternately press the 'Tab' or any arrow key or click the mouse in a new cell to save the entry and move to a new cell.
4. Type the number '5' into another blank cell and press 'Enter.'
5. Type the 'Equal' sign ('=') into a blank cell and click once on the cell with the number '15' in it. Click the 'Plus' sign (' ') and click once on the cell with the '5' in it. Press 'Enter' to save the formula and notice that the answer to '15 5' is displayed in the cell that contains the equation.
Using Built-In Functions
6. Launch Microsoft Excel 2010 and enter some sample data into a few of the cells in a blank workbook.
7. Click on the cell that will contain the answer to the desired equation.
8. Click the 'Formulas' tab on the toolbar.
9. Click 'Insert Function' from the 'Function Library' on the 'Formulas' tab.
10. Click the 'Select a Category' pull down menu to choose the general category of equation required.
11. Scroll down if necessary to find the desired function in the 'Select a Function' list. Click once on the function name and click 'OK' to bring up the formula dialog box.
12. Click once in the cell that contains the information required for the first argument listed in the 'Function Arguments' dialog box. Click the next box in the 'Function Arguments' dialog box to save the first argument and change the focus to the second argument in the equation.
13. Click once in the cell that contains the information required for the second argument listed in the 'Function Arguments' dialog box.
14. Click 'OK' if all of the necessary arguments have been entered into the 'Function Arguments' dialog box. Notice that the cell containing the formula will now display the results of the equation.