Tutorials for Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint

Align Cell Entries

When you type text into a cell, by default your entry aligns with the left side of the cell. When you type numbers into a cell, by default your entry aligns with the right side of the cell. You can change the cell alignment. You can center, left-align, or right-align any cell entry. Look at cells A1 to D1. Note that they are aligned with the left side of the cell.

Align Left Example

EXERCISE 4

Center

To center cells A1 to D1:

Align Center Example

  1. Select cells A1 to D1.
  2. Choose the Home tab.
  3. Click the Center button Center Button in the Alignment group. Excel centers each cell's content.

Left-Align

To left-align cells A1 to D1:

Align Left Example

  1. Select cells A1 to D1.
  2. Choose the Home tab.
  3. Click the Align Text Left Align Text Left button in the Alignment group. Excel left-aligns each cell's content.

Right-Align

To right-align cells A1 to D1:

Align Left Example

  1. Select cells A1 to D1. Click in cell A1.
  2. Choose the Home tab.
  3. Click the Align Text Right Align Text Right button. Excel right-aligns the cell's content.
  4. Click anywhere on your worksheet to clear the highlighting.

Note: You can also change the alignment of cells with numbers in them by using the alignment buttons.

Perform Advanced Mathematical Calculations

When you perform mathematical calculations in Excel, be careful of precedence. Calculations are performed from left to right, with multiplication and division performed before addition and subtraction.

EXERCISE 5

Advanced Calculations

  1. Move to cell A7.
  2. Type =3+3+12/2*4.
  3. Press Enter.

Note: Microsoft Excel divides 12 by 2, multiplies the answer by 4, adds 3, and then adds another 3. The answer, 30, displays in cell A7.

Precedence Example

To change the order of calculation, use parentheses. Microsoft Excel calculates the information in parentheses first.

  1. Double-click in cell A7.
  2. Edit the cell to read =(3+3+12)/2*4.
  3. Press Enter.

Note: Microsoft Excel adds 3 plus 3 plus 12, divides the answer by 2, and then multiplies the result by 4. The answer, 36, displays in cell A7.

Precedence Example 2

Copy, Cut, Paste, and Cell Addressing

In Excel, you can copy data from one area of a worksheet and place the data you copied anywhere in the same or another worksheet. In other words, after you type information into a worksheet, if you want to place the same information somewhere else, you do not have to retype the information. You simple copy it and then paste it in the new location.

You can use Excel's Cut feature to remove information from a worksheet.  Then you can use the Paste feature to place the information you cut anywhere in the same or another worksheet.   In other words, you can move information from one place in a worksheet to another place in the same or different worksheet by using the Cut and Paste features.

Microsoft Excel records cell addresses in formulas in three different ways, called absolute, relative, and mixed. The way a formula is recorded is important when you copy it. With relative cell addressing, when you copy a formula from one area of the worksheet to another, Excel records the position of the cell relative to the cell that originally contained the formula. With absolute cell addressing, when you copy a formula from one area of the worksheet to another, Excel references the same cells, no matter where you copy the formula. You can use mixed cell addressing to keep the row constant while the column changes, or vice versa. The following exercises demonstrate.

EXERCISE 6

Copy, Cut, Paste, and Cell Addressing

  1. Move to cell A9.
  2. Type 1. Press Enter. Excel moves down one cell.
  3. Type 1. Press Enter. Excel moves down one cell.
  4. Type 1. Press Enter. Excel moves down one cell.
  5. Move to cell B9.
  6. Type 2. Press Enter. Excel moves down one cell.
  7. Type 2. Press Enter. Excel moves down one cell.
  8. Type 2. Press Enter. Excel moves down one cell.

In addition to typing a formula as you did in Lesson 1, you can also enter formulas by using Point mode. When you are in Point mode, you can enter a formula either by clicking on a cell or by using the arrow keys.

  1. Move to cell A12.
  2. Type =.
  3. Use the up arrow key to move to cell A9.
  4. Type +.
  5. Use the up arrow key to move to cell A10.
  6. Type +.
  7. Use the up arrow key to move to cell A11.
  8. Click the check mark on the Formula bar. Look at the Formula bar. Note that the formula you entered is displayed there.

Relative Cell Address Example

Copy with the Ribbon

To copy the formula you just entered, follow these steps:

Copy Example

  1. You should be in cell A12.
  2. Choose the Home tab.
  3. Click the Copy Copy Button button in the Clipboard group. Excel copies the formula in cell A12.

Paste Example

  1. Press the right arrow key once to move to cell B12.
  2. Click the Paste Paste Button button in the Clipboard group. Excel pastes the formula in cell A12 into cell B12.
  3. Press the Esc key to exit the Copy mode.

Compare the formula in cell A12 with the formula in cell B12 (while in the respective cell, look at the Formula bar). The formulas are the same except that the formula in cell A12 sums the entries in column A and the formula in cell B12 sums the entries in column B. The formula was copied in a relative fashion.

Before proceeding with the next part of the exercise, you must copy the information in cells A7 to B9 to cells C7 to D9. This time you will copy by using the Mini toolbar.