Ken Bluttman

The Excel ADDRESS function takes a row number and a column number as arguments and returns a standard cell reference (cell address). For example, if you pass the row number 4 and the column number 3, the function returns C4. Excel’s ADDRESS function can return an absolute or relative reference in either of Excel's two reference formats.

Excel’s OFFSET function lets you get the address of the cell that is offset from another cell by a certain number of rows and/or columns. For example, cell E4 is offset from cell B4 by three columns because it is three columns to the right. The Excel OFFSET takes up to five arguments. The first three are required: A cell address or a range address: Named ranges are not allowed.

Excel’s IF function is like the Swiss Army knife of Excel functions. Really, it is used in many situations. Often, you can use Excel’s IF function with other functions. IF, structurally, is easy to understand. The Excel IF function takes three arguments: A test that gives a true or false answer. For example, the test "is the value in cell A5 equal to the value in cell A8" can have only one of two possible answers, yes or no.

You may have data in your Excel worksheet that looks like a date but is not represented as an Excel date value. For example, if you enter 01-24-18 in a cell, Excel would have no way of knowing whether this is January 24, 2018, or the code for your combination lock. If it looks like a date, you can use the Excel DATEVALUE function to convert it to an Excel date value.

The data that Excel’s FORECAST function works with is in pairs; there’s an X value and a corresponding Y value in each pair. Perhaps you’re investigating the relationship between people’s heights and their weight. Each data pair would be one person’s height — the X value — and that person’s weight — the Y value.

The Excel MOD function returns the remainder from an integer division operation. This remainder is called the modulus, hence the function’s name. The Excel MOD function has two arguments: the number being divided and the number being used to divide the first argument. The second argument is the divisor. The syntax for the Excel MOD function follows: =MOD(number, divisor) These are examples of the MOD function:=MOD(12,6) returns 0.

The Watch Window lets you watch the calculated results of an Excel formula but without the limitation of having the cell be in the viewing area of Excel. This Excel feature is helpful when you’re working on correcting formulas that use precedents that are scattered about the worksheet or workbook.First, to set up a watch in Excel 2019, follow these steps: Click the Watch Window button on the Formulas tab of the Ribbon.

Ever wonder how to use Excel’s IRR function? This is how it works. Which is better to do: pay off your credit card or invest in Uncle Ralph’s new business venture? You’re about to finance a car. Should you put down a large down payment? Or should you put down a small amount and invest the rest? How can you make decisions about alternative financial opportunities like these?