CELL REFERENCING
Cell referencing is the process of placing the unique cell name (cell address) within formulas. This allows for the computer to perform recalculations without the any additional adjustments from the user. It also reduces transcription errors and make producing the document more efficient
A cell reference is when we use the name of a cell in a formula. We ensure that our formulae contain cell references so that:
1. We are better able to double check our formulae
2. Recalculation can be done automatically, meaning the answers calculated by the formula will always be correct if the values in the cells change.
For example: cell A1 contains the value 6 and A2contains the value 7
If we wanted the add the values in cells A1 and A2 we could have two possible formulae
1. =SUM(6,7) 2. =SUM(A1,A2)
In both formulae the answer would be 13. However, if we were to change the 6 to a 10 only the second formula with the cell reference would give the right answer of 17.
Cell references are used in formulas, functions, charts, and other Excel commands.
While references usually refer to individual cells - such as A1, they can also refer to a group or range of cells.
A cell reference is when we use the name of a cell in a formula. We ensure that our formulae contain cell references so that:
1. We are better able to double check our formulae
2. Recalculation can be done automatically, meaning the answers calculated by the formula will always be correct if the values in the cells change.
For example: cell A1 contains the value 6 and A2contains the value 7
If we wanted the add the values in cells A1 and A2 we could have two possible formulae
1. =SUM(6,7) 2. =SUM(A1,A2)
In both formulae the answer would be 13. However, if we were to change the 6 to a 10 only the second formula with the cell reference would give the right answer of 17.
Cell references are used in formulas, functions, charts, and other Excel commands.
While references usually refer to individual cells - such as A1, they can also refer to a group or range of cells.
RANGES
Ranges are groups of cells. These cells can be adjacent or non-adjacent. Adjacent cells are all together or beside each other. Non- adjacent cells are cells that do not touch each other; they are not beside each other. Like cells, the ranges also have a name. The two cell references used for a range are separated by a colon ( : ) which tells Excel to include all the cells between these start and end points.They are named in this format top left cell:bottom right cell. So cells C1,D1,E1,C2,D2 and E2 are adjacent cells the cell that appears to the top left is cell C1and the cell that appears to the bottom right cell E2. The range would therefore be given the name C1:E2
The image above shows the following cells with values: D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 and D6. If we were to to reference each cell individually the formula would be =SUM(D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6) but there is a shorter way of writing it. We can include the range D1:D6 to make the formula =SUM(D1:D6)
Non adjacent cell ranges are identified by separating the range of each cell block with commas. So the highlighted cells as a cell range would be A1:A5,C1:D5