Microsoft Excel Functions with Workable

Examples
This guide explains many important Microsoft Excel functions with practical examples and explanations.

Mathematical Functions

Function Formula Workable Example Explanation

SUM =SUM(A1:A5) If A1:A5 contains 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 → result = 150 Adds all numbers together.

AVERAGE =AVERAGE(A1:A5) If A1:A5 contains 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 → result = 30 Calculates the average.

MIN =MIN(A1:A5) If A1:A5 contains 10, 20, 30 → result = 10 Finds the smallest value.

MAX =MAX(A1:A5) If A1:A5 contains 10, 20, 30 → result = 30 Finds the largest value.

ROUND =ROUND(A1,2) If A1 = 15.6789 → result = 15.68 Rounds a number to specified decimals.

PRODUCT =PRODUCT(A1:A3) If A1:A3 contains 2, 3, 4 → result = 24 Multiplies numbers.

MOD =MOD(10,3) Result = 1 Returns remainder after division.

SQRT =SQRT(81) Result = 9 Calculates square root.

Logical Functions

Function Formula Workable Example Explanation

IF =IF(A1>=50,"Pass","Fail") If A1 = 70 → Pass Checks condition and returns result.

AND =AND(A1>50,B1>50) If A1=70 and B1=80 → TRUE Returns TRUE if all conditions are true.

OR =OR(A1>50,B1>50) If A1=20 and B1=80 → TRUE Returns TRUE if one condition is true.

NOT =NOT(A1>50) If A1=30 → TRUE Reverses logical result.

IFERROR =IFERROR(A1/B1,"Error") If B1=0 → Error Handles formula errors.

Text Functions

Function Formula Workable Example Explanation

LEFT =LEFT(A1,3) If A1='Treasure' → Tre Extracts characters from left.

RIGHT =RIGHT(A1,4) If A1='Treasure' → sure Extracts characters from right.

MID =MID(A1,2,4) If A1='Treasure' → reas Extracts middle characters.

LEN =LEN(A1) If A1='Excel' → 5 Counts characters.

UPPER =UPPER(A1) If A1='excel' → EXCEL Converts text to uppercase.

LOWER =LOWER(A1) If A1='EXCEL' → excel Converts text to lowercase.

PROPER =PROPER(A1) If A1='microsoft excel' → Microsoft Excel Capitalizes words.

CONCAT =CONCAT(A1,B1) If A1='Data' and B1='Analysis' → DataAnalysis Combines text.

Date and Time Functions

Function Formula Workable Example Explanation

TODAY =TODAY() Returns current date automatically Shows today's date.

NOW =NOW() Returns current date and time Shows current date and time.

YEAR =YEAR(A1) If A1='13/05/2026' → 2026 Extracts year.

MONTH =MONTH(A1) If A1='13/05/2026' → 5 Extracts month.

DAY =DAY(A1) If A1='13/05/2026' → 13 Extracts day.

DATEDIF =DATEDIF(A1,B1,"Y") If A1='01/01/2000' and B1='01/01/2026' → 26 Calculates difference between dates.

Lookup and Reference Functions

Function Formula Workable Example Explanation

VLOOKUP =VLOOKUP(101,A2:C10,2,FALSE) Looks for 101 in first column and returns matching value
Vertical
from lookup.
second column

HLOOKUP =HLOOKUP('Math',A1:F5,2,FALSE) Finds Math in first row and returns value from second Horizontal
row lookup.

INDEX =INDEX(A1:A5,3) If A1:A5 = Apple, Mango, Orange → Orange Returns value by position.

MATCH =MATCH('Orange',A1:A5,0) If Orange is third item → result = 3 Returns position of value.

XLOOKUP =XLOOKUP(101,A2:A10,B2:B10) Returns corresponding value for ID 101 Advanced lookup function.

Statistical Functions

Function Formula Workable Example Explanation

COUNT =COUNT(A1:A10) Counts cells containing numbers Counts numeric cells.

COUNTA =COUNTA(A1:A10) Counts all non-empty cells Counts filled cells.

COUNTBLANK =COUNTBLANK(A1:A10) Counts empty cells Counts blank cells.

COUNTIF =COUNTIF(A1:A10,">50") Counts values greater than 50 Conditional counting.

MEDIAN =MEDIAN(A1:A5) If values are 10,20,30,40,50 → 30 Returns middle number.

MODE =MODE(A1:A5) If values are 2,2,3,4 → 2 Returns most repeated number.

STDEV =STDEV(A1:A5) Calculates data spread Standard deviation.

Financial Functions
Function Formula Workable Example Explanation

PMT =PMT(5%/12,60,-500000) Calculates monthly loan repayment Loan payment calculation.

FV =FV(10%,5,-1000) Shows future value after investment Future value calculation.

PV =PV(10%,5,-1000) Shows present value Present value calculation.

NPV =NPV(10%,A1:A5) Calculates project profitability Net present value.

IRR =IRR(A1:A5) Calculates investment return rate Internal rate of return.

How to Use Excel Functions
1. Click the cell where you want the result to appear.

2. Type '=' followed by the function name.

3. Enter the cell references or values inside brackets.

4. Press Enter on your keyboard.

5. Excel automatically calculates the answer.

6. You can drag the fill handle to apply the formula to other rows.