Hitting the “Enter” key tells Excel that you are ready to execute your formula. Once you have entered the numbers you’d like to subtract, hit the “Enter” key. In this case, your cell would contain the characters “=5-4.” After you’ve typed the equal sign, type the numbers you’re subtracting separated by the minus sign (-). In Excel, all formulas start with an equal sign (=). Once you select the cell, begin to type your formula. To begin, use your cursor to select an empty cell on the worksheet. This problem is simple, but you can apply the same concept to larger numbers and more complex data. As an example, we’ll use the problem 5 – 4 = 1. Function: a built-in formula used in Excelįor simple math problems, you can use a single cell to calculate subtraction problems.Formula: the instructions entered into a cell to produce a specific result.Cell: the intersection of a row and a column on a worksheet.Worksheet: an electronic document made up of rows and columns that can contain data.To get the most out of the information below, keep these terms in mind while reading: Both operations are simple to perform and only a little different from one another.īelow, we will talk about the different ways to subtract in Excel and give you some examples. Excel can subtract numbers in a single cell or numbers that appear in a range of cells.Īs mentioned above, Excel can subtract numbers in a single cell or within a range of cells.Always type formulas into the cell where you want your answer to appear.All mathematical operations in Excel use formulas.In this article, we have important points to remember, various types of Excel subtraction, methods for subtraction with two or more cells in Excel, and more. Are you ready to improve your Excel skills? Learning new software methods, tips, and tricks is always helpful to have under your toolbelt. There are several helpful (and fairly simple) ways to perform this task on your own. We don’t know why Microsoft didn’t make it but there is no subtract function in Excel. Below you will find a complete guide on how to subtract in Excel. Excel can perform many different functions and one of the most basic is subtraction.

But, learning how to perform even simple functions can be a bit tricky when first starting out. This article will walk you through each step of the process from start to finish.Įxcel is a powerful program that makes organizing numbers and data easy for anyone. Learn how to subtract in Excel with this valuable how-to guide.

Subtract formula excel