Using the 6 Most Common Math Functions in Google Sheets
Software as service is a revolutionary service model of Cloud Computing that makes it possible for you to use a particular software without having to pay for its license and even without downloading and local installation. Some of these apps are available completely free of cost and to access them all you need is just a computing device with a browser and an Internet connection
From the Google suite of free cloud services, one such free but powerful tool is Google Sheets. In this article, I will show step by step how can you apply the basic 6 different math functions in Google Sheets.
The 6 basic functions I am going to implement are MAX, MIN, AVERAGE, COUNT, COUNTUNIQUE, and MEDIAN.
Data Preparation
To see these functions in action, first, I need to prepare some dummy data to which I will apply all these functions. Let’s prepare the necessary data with the help of the following steps.
Step 1: Visit Google Sheets and start a new blank sheet.
Step 2: Prepare data with two columns “Days” and “Temperature” in D and E respectively as shown in the following reference figure. Number the “Days” column from 1 to 10 and enter some dummy data in the “Temperature” column.
[Note: It is recommended to use the same columns, cells, and values as given in the reference figure for easy reference and results comparison]
1. “MAX()” Function
Step 1: The “MAX()” function can give us the maximum temperature observed in our data. To do so select cell E14.
Step 2: Insert the “MAX()” function by either clicking on the “Insert” menu, then pointing your cursor to the “Function” option, and then clicking on the “MAX” function or just typing in E14 “=MAX(”.
Step 3: Google Sheets will automatically select all the data in Column E. Since this selection is fine as per our example, just press the “Enter” button and cell E14 will now contain the maximum value present in our example data i.e. 41.
2. “MIN()” function
The “MIN()” function will give us the coolest or the minimum temperature present in our data. To see it in action, select cell E15 and type “=MIN(E2:E11)” and press “Enter“. E15 will not contain the minimum value in our data i.e. 5.
3. “AVERAGE()” function
The “Average()” function will calculate for us the average of our temperature data. To apply this function in cell E16, type “=Average(E2:E11)” and press “Enter”. E16 will now have the average temperature.
4. “COUNT()” function
The function “Count()” can tell us about the total number of observations in our temperature data. To use the “Count()” function type in E17, type “=Count(E2:E11)” and press the “Enter” button. This will give us 10 as a result in cell E17.
5. “COUNTUNIQUE()” function
Our fifth function “CountUnique()” can report for us the total number of unique observations in our data. To apply it, in cell E18 type “=CountUnique(E2:E11)” and then press “Enter“. E18 will now contain 9 as in our example data, two days (5 and 9) have the same temperature i.e. 33 so both are counted as 1.
6. “MEDIAN()” function
Our sixth and final function the “MEDIAN()” function can help us calculate the middle value in our data. To use it in cell E19 type “=MEDIAN(E2:E11)” and press “Enter”. E19 will now have the median value of our observation i.e. 25, close to the average value.
Wrapping Up
In this article, I have shown you step by step how can you apply 6 basic math functions in Google Sheets to a set of hypothetical temperature data quickly and easily.
Apply the same functions to a different set of data and let us know about the results in the comments section.
