Today Function. Note: If you want to retrieve the date and time that the computer is set to, use the =NOW() function.

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1 Today Function The today function: =TODAY() It has no arguments, and returns the date that the computer is set to. It is volatile, so if you save it and reopen the file one month later the new, updated date will appear. The today function can be used in formulas involving time. Excel uses a serial number system for dates. It is designed so that January 1, 1900 is represented as 1, and January 2, 1900 is 2, and so on. The serial number for 2/20/18 is You can see the serial number by entering a date, then changing the number format to General : Note: If you want to retrieve the date and time that the computer is set to, use the =NOW() function.

2 Today Function To see the serial number for any given date, type the date in Excel, then change the Number Format to General. To change it back to a date, select either the Short Date or Long Date setting.

3 Today Function To find out the number of days between any two dates after 1/1/1900, just take the more recent date minus (-) the earlier date (the recent date is the greater serial number) using cell references. If you want to insert the current date, you can type: =Today() We can also add a cell that calculates years old by dividing days old by days in a year.

4 Today Function To find out how many days it is until a future date, take the future date (the larger serial number) minus the current date (the smaller serial number).

5 Important Basic Functions AutoSum SUM function will add together the values in a range. AVERAGE function will return the arithmetic mean of the values in a range. MIN function will return the minimum value in a range. MAX function will return the maximum value in a range. MEDIAN function will return the midpoint value, which is the value that one half of the population is above or below. The AutoSum command can be used to quickly use common functions. It is in the home tab, editing group.

6 Auto Calculate If you select a range with your cursor, the status bar can display the sum of the selected range, and other calculations as well. To change what the status bar automatically calculates, right click on the status bar.

7 Calculations with Date and Time Practice calculations with date and time: Dates are just serial numbers. Take the big serial number minus the small serial number.

8 Calculations with Date and Time Practice calculations with date and time: Select the General format. The result shows a percentage of 24 hours.

9 Calculations with Date and Time Practice calculations with date and time: Multiply it by 24 (hours in a day) to get the hours worked.

10 Introduction to the IF Function The IF function is used for a variety of purposes, the syntax is: IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false) An IF function performs a logical test using Logical Operators typically to look for certain numerical values or text strings. As a result of the logical test, it then does something (typically writes a text string or performs a new calculation we ll try both). Logical tests make use of Logical Operators: = Equal To <> Not Equal To < Less Than > Greater Than <= Less Than Or Equal To >= Greater Than Or Equal To

11 IF Function The IF function arguments can all include formulas or even text. So, for example, you can create functions like this very basic example: People can drive alone in Iowa when their age is greater than or equal to 16. If the logical test passes, then Yes is displayed. Otherwise No is displayed. Formula Auto Fill can be used to simply copy the formula to adjacent cells.

12 Conditional Formatting Icon Sets You can also include icon sets to indicate the results of a logical test.

13 Conditional Formatting Icon Sets Icon Sets are a type of conditional formatting: Always use the Manage Rules command to edit the icon set logical test.

14 Conditional Formatting Icon Sets When editing the rules, be sure to change the Type to Number for this example (do this first, before typing in the Value).

15 IF Function The IF function arguments can all include formulas or even text. So, for example, you can create functions like this very basic example: So, if the person is not old enough to drive, the formula 16 (age needed to drive) the Age of the person is carried out. The difference is how many years the person needs to wait.

16 Add data bar conditional formatting:

17 Concatenate Function (Different than Concatenation): The Concatenate Function is used to bring together the contents of two separate cells. Most commonly it is used to create a cell that contains a first name and last name from two separate cells, like shown below. Quotation marks around an empty space this is used to add a space between the first and last names.