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To specify
arguments,
use a list of values,
separated
by commas
and enclosed
in parentheses.
If the values
are in cells, you can list those
cells as the
arguments.
For example,
to sum the numbers
2, 3, 5, and 6 enter
SUM(2,3,5,6).
Or if those
numbers
are in cells A1, 3_2, A3, and A4, you can
enter
one of the following:
SUM(A1,A2,A3,A4)
or
SUM(AX-A4)
Placeholder
arguments
z
When
you insert a built-in
functionin a cell, you can automatically
insert
placeholders
for the arguments.
These
placeholders
appear
with the function
in the Edit Area. Since each function
has different
arguments,
the
placeholders
can help you remember
what
arguments
to enter
for a particular
function.
After inserting
the function,
replace
the placeholders
with the actual
arguments
you want
to use.
For example,
you can insert the AVG function
with place.hoMers
inside
the
parentheses
to remind
you to enter
the values
to be averaged.
If you insert
the AVG function
with placeholders,
the following
appears
in the Edit Area:
=AVG(value
1, value
2, ...)
To use the AVG function
to average
the'values,
for example,
in cells A1, A2,
A3, A4, and AS, replace
the placeholders
with addresses
of cells that contain
the values,
as in the example
below.
_ - _,_.
_
_"
=AVG(A1,
A2, A3, A4, A5)
or
=AVG(AI-,_,5)
You may also enter
the numbers
themselves
instead
of the cell addresses.
For some functions, such as the financial functions,
it is important to enter the
arguments
in the order shown in the dialog box and in Appendix
A of this
manual. Inserting placeholders
will help you remember
the order.
Entering
built-in functions
To include
a built-in
function
in a formula,
either
insert the function
using
Insert Function
from the Formula
menu
or type the function
and all of its
arguments.
When
you use Insert Function,
you have the additional
option
ot
inserting
placeholder
arguments.
I_ To insert a function
using the Formula
menu:
1. Select the cell where
you want
the result of the calculation
to appear.
2.
Select
Insert Function
from
the Formula
menu.
A dialog
box appears.
Spreadsheet
89
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