Be able to use arithmetic operators in formulae including add, subtract, multiply, divide, indices

📊 20 Spreadsheets – Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic Operators – The Basics

• ➕ Add – A1 + B1 adds the values in cells A1 and B1.
• ➖ Subtract – C1 - D1 subtracts D1 from C1.
• ✖️ Multiply – E1 * F1 multiplies E1 by F1.
• ➗ Divide – G1 / H1 divides G1 by H1.
• 🔢 Indices (Exponentiation) – I1 ^ 2 squares the value in I1.

Using Operators in Formulae – An Analogy

Think of a spreadsheet like a recipe book. Each cell is an ingredient, and the formula is the cooking step that combines them.

For example, if A1 is the number of apples (🍎) and B1 is the number of oranges (🍊), then A1 + B1 gives you the total fruit count.

Indices (Exponentiation) – Power Up!

Indices let you raise a number to a power. It’s like a super‑power boost for your numbers.

Example: 3 ^ 4 means 3 multiplied by itself 4 times: $3^4 = 81$.

Practical Examples – Table of Formulae

Exam Tips – Quick Checklist

Practice Challenge

Suppose you have the following values:

• A1 = 12
• B1 = 4
• C1 = 3

Write a formula that calculates: multiply the sum of A1 and B1 by C1, then square the result.

Answer: ((A1 + B1) * C1) ^ 2 → $((12+4)*3)^2 = 576$.