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The COUNTIF function

Fruit Data Number Data

apples 86
oranges 54
peaches 75
apples 32

Formula Description (Result)

Count the number of cells holding "apples" in
the "Fruit Data" column above. Result: 2
Count the number of cells with a value > 55
in the "Number Data" column above. Result: 2

Notes
Counts the number of cells within a range that meet the given criteria.

Syntax: COUNTIF(range,criteria)

Range is the range of cells from which you want to count cells.
Criteria is the criteria in the form of a number, expression, or
text that defines which cells will be counted. For example,
criteria can be expressed as 32, "32", ">32", "apples".
 Return to Contents
The COUNTIF function

Fruit Data Number Data

apples 86
oranges 54
peaches 75
apples 32

Formula Description (Result)

Count the number of cells holding "apples" in
=COUNTIF(B5:B8,"apples")
the "Fruit Data" column above. Result: 2
Count the number of cells with a value > 55
=COUNTIF(C5:C8,">55")
in the "Number Data" column above. Result: 2

Notes
Counts the number of cells within a range that meet the given criteria.

Syntax: COUNTIF(range,criteria)

Range is the range of cells from which you want to count cells.
Criteria is the criteria in the form of a number, expression, or
text that defines which cells will be counted. For example,
criteria can be expressed as 32, "32", ">32", "apples".
A standard multiplication table:
=B$2*$A3
S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
A standard multiplication table:
=B$2*$A3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
3 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30
4 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40
5 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
6 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
7 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70
8 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80
9 9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72 81 90
10 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
 Return to Contents
The SUMIF function

Property Value Commission

$100,000 $7,000
$200,000 $14,000
$300,000 $21,000
$400,000 $28,000

Formula Description (Result)

Sum commissions for property values
over $160,000. Result: $63,000.

Notes:
Syntax: SUMIF(range,criteria,sum_range)
Range is the range of cells you want evaluated.
Criteria is the criteria in the form of a number, expression, or text that defines which cells
will be added. For example, criteria can be expressed as 32, "32", ">32", "apples".
Sum_range are the actual cells to sum.
Remarks:
The cells in sum_range are summed only if their corresponding cells in range match the criteria.
If sum_range is omitted, the cells in range are summed.
 Return to Contents
The SUMIF function

Property Value Commission

$100,000 $7,000
$200,000 $14,000
###
$300,000 $21,000
###
$400,000 $28,000
###
63,000.00
###

Formula Description (Result)

Sum commissions for
=SUMIF(B5:B8,">160000",C5:C8 property values over
) $160,000. Result:
$63,000.

Notes:
Syntax: SUMIF(range,criteria,sum_range)
Range is the range of cells you want evaluated.
Criteria is the criteria in the form of a number, expression, or text that defines which cells
will be added. For example, criteria can be expressed as 32, "32", ">32", "apples".
Sum_range are the actual cells to sum.
Remarks:
The cells in sum_range are summed only if their corresponding cells in range match the criteria.
If sum_range is omitted, the cells in range are summed.
 A B C D E F G H I J K
1 Order # Revenue Salesperson
2 7002-3556 $ 91,919 Vishal
3 7002-3557 $ 23,967 Mike =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E4,$B$2:$B$21)
4 7002-3558 $ 257,641 Carmen Carmen =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E5,$B$2:$B$21)
5 7002-3559 $ 86,196 Harry Harry =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E6,$B$2:$B$21)
6 7002-3560 $ 134,663 Vishal Mike =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E7,$B$2:$B$21)
7 7002-3561 $ 78,266 Vishal Vishal
8 7002-3562 $ 102,697 Harry
9 7002-3563 $ 80,447 Vishal
10 7002-3564 $ 74,446 Vishal
11 7002-3565 $ 125,529 Carmen
12 7002-3566 $ 104,885 Harry
13 7002-3567 $ 95,316 Carmen
14 7002-3568 $ 93,995 Mike
15 7002-3569 $ 63,062 Mike
16 7002-3570 $ 84,530 Harry
17 7002-3571 $ 21,900 Mike
18 7002-3572 $ 56,328 Harry
19 7002-3573 $ 88,642 Mike
20 7002-3574 $ 66,191 Carmen
21 7002-3575 $ 92,690 Carmen
F4: =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E4,$B$2:$B$21)
F5: =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E5,$B$2:$B$21)
F6: =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E6,$B$2:$B$21)
F7: =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E7,$B$2:$B$21)
 A B C D E F G H I J K
1 Order # Revenue Salesperson
2 7002-3556 $ 91,919 Vishal
3 7002-3557 $ 23,967 Mike =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E4,$B$2:$B$21)
4 7002-3558 $ 257,641 Carmen Carmen $ 637,367 =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E5,$B$2:$B$21)
5 7002-3559 $ 86,196 Harry Harry $ 434,636 =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E6,$B$2:$B$21)
6 7002-3560 $ 134,663 Vishal Mike $ 291,566 =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E7,$B$2:$B$21)
7 7002-3561 $ 78,266 Vishal Vishal $ 459,741
8 7002-3562 $ 102,697 Harry
9 7002-3563 $ 80,447 Vishal
10 7002-3564 $ 74,446 Vishal
11 7002-3565 $ 125,529 Carmen
12 7002-3566 $ 104,885 Harry
13 7002-3567 $ 95,316 Carmen
14 7002-3568 $ 93,995 Mike
15 7002-3569 $ 63,062 Mike
16 7002-3570 $ 84,530 Harry
17 7002-3571 $ 21,900 Mike
18 7002-3572 $ 56,328 Harry
19 7002-3573 $ 88,642 Mike
20 7002-3574 $ 66,191 Carmen
21 7002-3575 $ 92,690 Carmen
F4: =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E4,$B$2:$B$21)
F5: =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E5,$B$2:$B$21)
F6: =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E6,$B$2:$B$21)
F7: =SUMIF($C$2:$C$21,E7,$B$2:$B$21)
10
7
9 =MAX(A1:A5)
27 27 =MAX(A1:A5,30)
2 30
 A B C D E F G H I
1 Exam Score Grade
=IF(C2>$D$13,"A",IF(C2>$D$14,"B","C"))
2 Pam Anderson 4
3 William Basie 88
4 Amelia Earhart 76
5 Albert Einstein 73
6 Mark Fydrich 79
7 Christopher Guest 85
8 Holly Jackson 100
9 Jeane Kirkpatrick 82
10 Bart Simpson 67
11 James Traficant 94
12
13 Cutoff for A 90
14 Cutoff for B 80
D2: =IF(C2>$D$13,"A",IF(C2>$D$14,"B","C"))
 A B C D E F G H I
1 Exam Score Grade =IF(C2>$D$13,"A",IF(C2>$D$14,"B","C"))
2 Pam Anderson 4 C
3 William Basie 88 B
4 Amelia Earhart 76 C
5 Albert Einstein 73 C
6 Mark Fydrich 79 C
7 Christopher Guest 85 B
8 Holly Jackson 100 A
9 Jeane Kirkpatrick 82 B
10 Bart Simpson 67 C
11 James Traficant 94 A
12
13 Cutoff for A 90
14 Cutoff for B 80
D2: =IF(C2>$D$13,"A",IF(C2>$D$14,"B","C"))
 A B C D E F G H I
1 Name Address Age
2 Steve 72 Andover Dr. 11
=COUNT(C2:C34)
3 Yuri 1133 Nicholas Av. 14 Count =COUNTA(A2:A34)
4 David 110 Arlington Street 11 Counta =COUNTIF(C2:C34,12)
5 Andy 38 Devonshire Road 11 Countif
6 Dan 38 Devonshire Road 14
7 Blaine 59 Village Road 11
8 Justin 59 Village Road 11
9 Rob 39 Jackson Drive 15
10 Russell 39 Jackson Dr 14
11 Justin 16 Crestwood Rd. 17
12 Tristan 75 Peak Avenue 11
13 Marty 101 Captains Walk 16
14 Jason 73 Minuteman Dr. 13
15 Joe 73 Minuteman Dr. 11
16 Philip 61 Prospect Avenue 11
17 Evan 281 Burnt Plains Road 11
18 Scott 281 Burnt Plains Road 14
19 Ivan 11 Riverview Terrace 12
20 John 41 Fairwood Ave 11
21 Kevin 381 Ocean Avenue 12
22 Robert 57 Wilson Street 11
23 Brian 20 Judith Drive 15
24 Zack 275 Rock La 11
25 Jon 275 Rock Lane 13
26 Adam 50 Live Oaks Rd 12
27 Sean 14 Lafayette Street 11
28 Matt 110 Kings Highway 11
29 Neil 125 Seemans Lane #11 11
30 Lord 4 Villa Rosa Terr 16
31 Kevin 23 Ellis St 17
32 David 660 Merwin Av 12
33 Greg 34 Elgin Road 13
 A B C D E F G H I
34 Cliff 34 Elgin Road 12
F3: =COUNT(C2:C34)
F4: =COUNTA(A2:A34)
F5: =COUNTIF(C2:C34,12)
 A B C D E F G H I
1 Name Address Age
2 Steve 72 Andover Dr. 11
=COUNT(C2:C34)
3 Yuri 1133 Nicholas Av. 14 Count 33 =COUNTA(A2:A34)
4 David 110 Arlington Street 11 Counta 33 =COUNTIF(C2:C34,12)
5 Andy 38 Devonshire Road 11 Countif 5
6 Dan 38 Devonshire Road 14
7 Blaine 59 Village Road 11
8 Justin 59 Village Road 11
9 Rob 39 Jackson Drive 15
10 Russell 39 Jackson Dr 14
11 Justin 16 Crestwood Rd. 17
12 Tristan 75 Peak Avenue 11
13 Marty 101 Captains Walk 16
14 Jason 73 Minuteman Dr. 13
15 Joe 73 Minuteman Dr. 11
16 Philip 61 Prospect Avenue 11
17 Evan 281 Burnt Plains Road 11
18 Scott 281 Burnt Plains Road 14
19 Ivan 11 Riverview Terrace 12
20 John 41 Fairwood Ave 11
21 Kevin 381 Ocean Avenue 12
22 Robert 57 Wilson Street 11
23 Brian 20 Judith Drive 15
24 Zack 275 Rock La 11
25 Jon 275 Rock Lane 13
26 Adam 50 Live Oaks Rd 12
27 Sean 14 Lafayette Street 11
28 Matt 110 Kings Highway 11
29 Neil 125 Seemans Lane #11 11
30 Lord 4 Villa Rosa Terr 16
31 Kevin 23 Ellis St 17
32 David 660 Merwin Av 12
33 Greg 34 Elgin Road 13
 A B C D E F G H I
34 Cliff 34 Elgin Road 12
F3: =COUNT(C2:C34)
F4: =COUNTA(A2:A34)
F5: =COUNTIF(C2:C34,12)
 Return to
Practice: Charting Contents
1. Select the range B7:C10 at left.
2. Hit the F11 key.

Excel generates a default column chart on a

Exercise 23-Generate a Quick Chart new worksheet it adds to the workbook. Your
column chart should look like this:
Sales
Quarter 1 $500
Quarter 2 $550
Quarter 3 $650

Exercise 24-Use the Chart Wizard to Create a Chart 1. Select the range B24:E27 at left.
2. Click the Chart Wizard button on Excel's
March April May Standard toolbar and walk through the
Marketing $350 $400 $325 four Wizard steps. Generate a bar chart
Overhead $100 $100 $110 that looks something like the one
R&D $500 $550 $525 below.
Exercise 25-Create a Scatter Plot (XY Chart)

X 5000 10000 15000 20000

Y 200000 400000 600000 800000

1. Select the range B46:F47above.

2. Click the Chart Wizard button on Excel's
Standard toolbar and start the Chart
Wizard. Choose the "XY (Scatter)" chart
type.
3. Complete the Chart Wizard steps. Your
scatter plot should look something like the
one below.
 Return to
Practice: Charting Contents
1. Select the range B7:C10 at left.
2. Hit Sales
the F11 key.

$700 Excel generates a default column chart on a

Exercise 23-Generate a Quick Chart new worksheet it adds to the workbook. Your
$600
column chart should look like this:
Sales $500
Quarter 1 $500 $400
Quarter 2 $550
Quarter 3 $650 $300

$200

$100

$0
Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3

Exercise 24-Use the Chart Wizard to Create a Chart 1. Select the range B24:E27 at left.
2. Click the Chart Wizard button on Excel's
March April May Standard toolbar and walk through the
Marketing $350 $400 $325 four Wizard steps. Generate a bar chart
Overhead $100 $100 $110 that looks something like the one
R&D $500 $550 $525 below.

Expenses March-May
Expense Type

R&D
$500

Overhead
$100

Marketing
$350

$0 $200 $400 $600

Dollars in Thousands

May April March

1. Select the range B46:F47above.
2. Click the Chart Wizard button on Excel's
Standard toolbar and start the Chart
Wizard. Choose the "XY (Scatter)" chart
type.
3. Complete the Chart Wizard steps. Your
scatter plot should look something like the
one below.
 1. Select the range B46:F47above.
Exercise 25-Create a Scatter Plot (XY Chart) 2. Click the Chart Wizard button on Excel's
Standard toolbar and start the Chart
X 5000 10000 15000 20000 Wizard. Choose the "XY (Scatter)" chart
type.
Y 200000 400000 600000 800000
3. Complete the Chart Wizard steps. Your
scatter plot should look something like the
one below.

XY Scatter Plot
900000
800000
700000
600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
 Return to Contents
Practice: Formulas

Exercise 16-Copying a Formula Using a Relative Reference

Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 1. Check to see that the cell C11 at left
March $500 $250 $35 holds the SUM formula =SUM(C8:C10).
April $300 $120 $45 2. Make cell C11 the current cell.
May $100 $95 $55 3. Position the mouse pointer on the filled
Total: $ 900.00 $ 465.00 $ 135.00 black square at the lower right-hand
corner of cell C11 and drag the pointer
across to cell E11. The result should look
like this:

4. Examine the copied formulas in cells

D11 and E11. Excel has adjusted the
cell references so they refer to the
correct values in their columns. That is,
=SUM(C8:C10) becomes =SUM(D8:D10)
and =SUM(E8:E10).

Exercise 17-Copying a Formula Using an Absolute Reference

Tax rate: 4% 1. Check to see that the cell C35 at left Tip-Building a Formula with Absolute
holds the formula =SUM(C32:C34)*C29. Addressing
Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 2. Make cell C35 the current cell.
March $500 $250 $35 3. Position the mouse pointer on the filled An absolute reference is indicated by the
April $300 $120 $45 black square at the lower right-hand dollar signs before the row and column
corner of cell C11 and drag the pointer indicators; e.g., $C$29. An alternative to
May $100 $95 $55
across to cell E35. The result should look typing in the dollar signs is to
Tax: $36 1. Position the mouse pointer on the cell
like this:
reference in the formula bar.
Example 2. Tap the F4 key until the type of reference
Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 you want is displayed.
March $500 $250 $35 The formulas in Cells D35 and E35 are The F4 key toggles through four options:
incorrect as copied. Excel has used its C29 - relative
April $300 $120 $45 $C$29 - absolute row and column
default relative referencing in the copied
May $100 $95 $55 $C29 - absolute column, relative row
formulas but that's not appropriate for
Tax: $36 $19 $5 the reference to the tax rate in Cell C29. C$29 - absolute row, relative column
4. Modify the "master formula" in Cell C35
so it looks like this:
=SUM(C32:C34)*$C$29
and then copy the modified formula
across for Quarters 2 and 3 to get the
correct results.
Check the completed example (with green
background) to see another instance.
 Exercise 18-Use Built-in Functions 1. Write a function in each of Cells C64:C67
at left to calculate the sum, average,
Sales minimum value, and maximum value in
May $ 235 the range C59:C62 (named SALES).
Your result should look like this:
June $ 544
July $ 829
August $ 610

Sum: $ 2,218
Average: $ 554.50 2. Enter the TODAY function in Cell C69 to
return the current date. The syntax of
Min: $ 235 the function is: =TODAY()
Max: $ 829

Today's date: 6/27/25

Exercise 19-Using Excel Logical Functions

1. Write an IF function in Cell C82 that
Sales ($ millions) compares the sales in Quarters 1 and 2
Quarter 1 500 and returns the text "Q1 better than 2" or
Quarter 2 350 "Q2 better than Q1". Your formula should
Quarter 3 495 look like this:
Quarter 4 620 =IF(C77>C78, "Q1 better than Q2",
"Q2 better than Q1.")
2. Write an IF statement in Cell C84 that
Which did better?
includes a nested MAX function and that
returns the text "Exceeded $600M sales
Met $600M Q goal? in one quarter" if any quarter meets that
criteria or "Quota not met" if not. Your
Q1 vs. Q2: formula should look like this:
=IF(MAX(C77:C80)>600, "Exceeded
$600M sales in 1 quarter","Quota not
met")
3. Write an IF statement in Cell 86 that
compares sales in Q1 and Q2. If Q1
sales are greater, return the difference.
If Q1 sales are less, return the increase.
Your formula should look like this:
=IF(C77>C78, C77-C78, C78-C77)

Exercise 20-Using Excel's Formula Auditing Tools

Tax rate: 6% 1. Turn on Excel's "Formula Auditing"

toolbar by choosing View, Toolbars,
Sale: 100 Formula Auditing from Excel's menu.
2. Click Cell C105 and click the "Trace
Tax: 6 Precedents" button on the toolbar to see
Total: 106 the values used by the C105 formula.
3. Click Cell C101 and click the "Trace
Dependents" button on the toolbar to see
the formula values that depend on the tax
rate value in C101.
4. Click the "Remove All Arrows" button on
the toolbar to remove auditing indicators.
 Formula Auditing from Excel's menu.
2. Click Cell C105 and click the "Trace
Precedents" button on the toolbar to see
the values used by the C105 formula.
3. Click Cell C101 and click the "Trace
Dependents" button on the toolbar to see
the formula values that depend on the tax
rate value in C101.
4. Click the "Remove All Arrows" button on
the toolbar to remove auditing indicators.