In this video, we're going to have a look at performing some quick calculations using auto functions. If you need to perform some basic calculations like sum or average, what is the quickest way to perform these functions. As you can see down here, we've got a list of over 1000 numbers. Here, we would like to perform a quick sum function. Now you could tap at the equal sign, then provide su m, hit tab and provide this entire list of numbers holding down Ctrl and Shift pressing up and then making sure to move down to only select all of these numbers, and then hit enter. But we can perform this much more quickly using the AutoSum which can be found on the Home tab across to the right with the Sigma sign that says AutoSum.
Select the cell that you like and simply hit AutoSum. And you'll notice Two things. Firstly, Excel tops at the equals sum. And even better than that, it actually guesses the range of numbers that you'd like included within the sum function. And against that perfectly, starting from cell eight, all the way down to 1076. Simply add Enter, and then we have our answer.
Now a word of warning is to always make sure that that range that our guesses is correct, since sometimes, particularly if they are non contiguous datasets, and we perform that exact same process. As you can see, Excel is confused by the blank row, which breaks these two data sets. So always just have a look at the reference and see if it makes sense. As with most commands in Excel, there is a keyboard shortcut that we can use to replace the mouse. You might have noticed when we hover over AutoSum it actually provides the shortcut of alt n equals So selecting the cell pressing ALT n equals performs that exact same process. Now what about if we went to information, like average max min account?
Are we able to use this auto process, which taps out the function and guess is the range you likely would have noticed that the AutoSum command has a little drop down arrow. Once we open that, you can actually see that there are auto functions for average count maximum. So I'm going to choose average, Excel topside, average, and guess is the range. What about for Max? Now instead of moving to the Home tab, using the drop down, I can use keystrokes of alt h for home, you for otter and then m formax. Do the same alt, h u n i for men.
And finally, the count, Alt, h, u, and C for cat. So as you can see, this process of creating auto functions is a quick way to get Excel to type out the function. And more importantly, guess the range of information. We've seen AutoSum and the keyboard shortcut of alt n equals or the keystrokes to perform otter average max min or count. We'll see in the next video