How to use Excel functions (e.g., SUM, AVERAGE, VLOOKUP) to perform calculations?

To use Excel functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, and VLOOKUP, you can follow these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Excel and create a new or open an existing workbook.

2. Enter your data into the cells of the worksheet. For example, if you want to calculate the sum of numbers in cells A1 to A5:

   • Type the numbers in cells A1 to A5.

3. To perform calculations using functions:

   • Select the cell where you want the result to appear. For example, select cell A6 to display the sum.

4. Use the "=" sign at the beginning of the cell to indicate that you want to perform a calculation.

5. Enter the function name followed by an opening parenthesis. For example, to calculate the sum, enter "=SUM(".

6. Specify the range of cells that you want to include in the calculation. For example, enter "A1:A5" to include the numbers in cells A1 to A5.

7. Close the parentheses by typing ")" and press Enter or Return. The result will be displayed in the selected cell.

8. To perform other calculations like finding the average or using VLOOKUP:

   • Follow a similar process by using the function names "AVERAGE" or "VLOOKUP" instead of "SUM".

9. For functions like VLOOKUP that require additional arguments, separate the arguments with commas. For example, the syntax for VLOOKUP is: "=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, range_lookup)".

10. Replace the placeholders in the syntax above with the actual values or cell references as required.

By following these steps, you can use various Excel functions to perform calculations and analyze your data efficiently. Remember to consult the Excel Help or Function Wizard for specific details about each function and its usage.