Subtract one cell from another
40%
People look for a SUBTRACT function and do not find one, because subtraction is an operator rather than a function: a minus sign between two references. =B2-C2 is the whole of it.
The four operators you will use constantly are + - * and /. The asterisk multiplies and the forward slash divides; there is no × or ÷ key on a keyboard, which is why Excel borrowed those two.
In D2, work out the profit: the revenue in B2 minus the costs in C2.
D2
| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quarter | Revenue | Costs | Profit | |
| 2 | Q1 | 4,800 | 3,150 | ||
| 3 | |||||
| 4 | |||||
| 5 | |||||
| 6 | |||||
| 7 | |||||
| 8 |
Click a cell and type. Enter commits, Tab moves right, F2 edits in place, Ctrl+Z undoes. Drag the small square at the corner of a cell to fill. Ctrl+Enter checks your answer.