Subtracting numbers in Microsoft Excel could take just a few extra steps than you are used to, however it may be accomplished. On this information, we’ll present you 4 other ways to subtract in Excel: Inside a cell, utilizing numbers from totally different cells, through the SUM operate, and utilizing the standing bar. This manner, you may have a special methodology you should use relying in your subtraction wants or desired stage of ease of use. Scroll on to learn to subtract in Excel.
The right way to subtract inside a cell
Simply have to shortly subtract two numbers? You are able to do that inside a single cell in an Excel spreadsheet.
Step 1: In an Excel spreadsheet, click on on an empty cell. Then, inside that cell, kind the next (omit the brackets and areas):
=[first number] – [second number]
For our instance, that will appear like: =9-1
Step 2: Then hit Enter in your keyboard.
The right reply to your subtraction math downside ought to instantly seem and change the components you typed in.
In our instance, the reply that appeared was 8.
The right way to subtract in several cells
When you have numbers positioned in several cells in your spreadsheet that you just wish to subtract, you are able to do so through the use of cell references and a components.
Step 1: Select the numbers you wish to subtract and make observe of their respective cell references. (A cell reference is a approach to denote the situation of a given cell in a spreadsheet and the mixture of a cell’s column quantity and row quantity. For instance, if one in every of your numbers is in a cell that’s positioned in column A and row 6, the cell reference for that quantity could be A6.)
Step 2: Click on on a clean cell in your spreadsheet and sort within the following components, omitting the areas and brackets and filling in your numbers’ cell references the place acceptable:
=[cell reference for first number] – [cell reference for second number]
In our instance, that will appear like: =A5-A6
Step 3: Then hit Enter in your keyboard.
The right reply to this subtraction downside ought to routinely seem instead of the components you simply typed in.
For our instance, since A5 equals 444 and A6 equals 227, the reply that appeared was 217.
The right way to subtract utilizing the SUM operate
Whereas Excel would not have a separate subtract operate, you’ll be able to nonetheless use the SUM operate to subtract numbers.
Step 1: Click on on an empty cell. Then kind within the following (getting into in your personal numbers):
=SUM(first quantity,-second quantity)
Be aware: It would not matter which quantity is the destructive one, however one in every of them needs to be for the subtraction to happen.
So in our instance, since we wish to subtract 227 from 444 the components can appear like this:
=SUM(444,-227)
or it might probably appear like this
=SUM(-227, 444)
Step 2: Hit Enter in your keyboard.
The right reply ought to instantly change the components you typed in.
In our instance, the reply could be 217.
The right way to subtract utilizing the standing bar
You do not all the time need to enter in a components to subtract numbers in Excel. You may also simply use Excel’s standing bar (positioned on the backside of your display) to your benefit. Simply kind your numbers into their very own particular person cells and switch one in every of them right into a destructive quantity. So once more, in the event you needed to subtract 227 from 444, you’ll kind 444 into one cell and sort -227 into the cell subsequent to 444.
Then simply choose each cells. Now have a look at the underside of the display on the standing bar. You will discover your reply subsequent to SUM:.
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