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Microsoft

Formulas, Functions and References

Microsoft via Coursera

Overview

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Build your confidence with Microsoft Excel formulas and functions to perform calculations and analyze data in real-world business scenarios. In this course, you will learn how to create and apply formulas, understand calculation order and syntax, and use cell references to calculate values such as profit and margin. You will also learn how to work with common Excel functions, use Insert Function and AutoSum to streamline calculations, and apply these skills to tasks such as preparing a monthly sales report. By the end of the course, you will be able to use foundational formulas and functions to perform accurate calculations and support everyday data analysis in Excel.

Syllabus

  • Formulas in Excel
    • This module introduces formulas in Excel and explains how they are used in business scenarios for data analysis. You will learn what a formula is, how to control calculation order using precedence rules, and how to apply formulas to calculate profit and margin in real-world tasks.
  • Getting Started with Functions
    • This module introduces function formulas in Excel and explains how to write them correctly. You will learn to use the INSERT function, apply AutoSum shortcuts, and use common functions to prepare a monthly sales report.
  • Mastering Foundational Excel Functions
    • This module is your first step toward transforming Excel from a simple data entry tool into a powerful engine for analysis. We move beyond manual calculations and the tedious, error-prone process of manually checking numbers. You will discover the five foundational functions (SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, IF, and CONCAT) that are the building blocks of virtually all data work. Starting with a real-world scenario that reveals the high cost of manual errors, you will learn not just what these functions do, but why they are essential for professional accuracy and efficiency. Through expert-led screencasts and two distinct hands-on labs, you will immediately apply these skills to summarize sales data, automate decision-making with logical tests, and merge text to create clean, dynamic labels. The module culminates in you creating a personalized function cheat-sheet—a job-ready tool to accelerate your daily work.
  • Building Scalable Formulas with Cell Referencing
    • This module unlocks the secret to making your Excel skills truly scalable and professional. If you have ever dragged a formula down a column only to see it break and produce a stream of errors, this is where you solve that problem forever. We tackle cell referencing—the critical difference between an amateur spreadsheet and a robust, professional model. Inspired by the cautionary tale of the multi-billion dollar JPMorgan "London Whale" error, you will understand why mastering relative, absolute, and mixed references is a non-negotiable skill for anyone serious about data integrity. You will learn how to "lock" specific cells in your formulas, allowing you to build complex tables, financial models, and dashboards with a single, elegant formula that can be copied across thousands of rows without failing. Through challenging hands-on exercises, you will build the muscle memory needed to construct formulas that are not only correct but are also flexible, scalable, and error-resistant.

Taught by

Microsoft

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