Excel's power comes from its ability to let you use data you've entered once by simply referring to its location on the spreadsheet, not its value.

You'll do this by entering formulas and copying them.  Get good at this, and you'll rarely have to calculate anything by hand again.

Entering a Formula: The = Sign
To enter a formula, announce to Excel that one is about to come with the equal sign.  The easiest formulas are simple arithmetic:

+ is plus                    / is divided by
-  is minus                 *  is times (multiplication)

The formula is still in the cell, but you see the answer.

Notice that you type the cell address (c2) not the value ($21,000) to create the formula.  That means if you change the original value, the calculation will change also.  That's because Excel doesn't care what number it uses, only its location on the spreadsheet.

Copying a formula
Not only will excel help you find a mistake.  Its biggest power is to repeat your instructions hundreds of times.

First select the sell you want to copy.  Now:

• Drag with the copy tool.  Make sure you haven't got the Evil Arrow instead.
• Double-click on the copy tool (if the column to the left is filled out.)
• Copy using the menu or one of many keyboard shortcuts, then paste using the same.

This also works going across.  Instead of changing the row element (the number) Excel adjusts the column element (the letter).

The Percent Change
Reporters think Excel will calculate percent changes automatically.  It won't.  But you'll only have to remember how to make one once.  Excel will copy that formula for you over and over.

Get it down now:

Percent change = (new - old)/ old

Percent change = difference / original value:

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