At some point, you may need to perform subtraction in Excel to get the difference between two numbers. Fortunately, Excel offers several ways to subtract numbers, and we’re going to cover them all in this article.
Subtraction Formula in Excel
The easiest way to subtract in Excel is to use the subtraction formula. To do this, you need to follow the steps below:
- Select the cell where you want the result to appear.
- Type the formula
=A1-B1, where A1 and B1 are the cells containing the numbers you want to subtract. - Press Enter.
Excel will then display the result of the subtraction in the selected cell.
Subtraction Using Excel Functions
Excel also provides several built-in functions that can be used to subtract numbers. Here are the most commonly used functions:
1. MINUS Function
The MINUS function in Excel subtracts numbers and returns the result. To use the MINUS function, you need to follow the steps below:
- Select the cell where you want the result to appear.
- Type the formula
=MINUS(A1,B1), where A1 and B1 are the cells containing the numbers you want to subtract. - Press Enter.
Excel will then display the result of the subtraction in the selected cell.
2. SUBTRACT Function
The SUBTRACT function in Excel subtracts numbers and returns the result. To use the SUBTRACT function, you need to follow the steps below:
- Select the cell where you want the result to appear.
- Type the formula
=SUBTRACT(A1,B1), where A1 and B1 are the cells containing the numbers you want to subtract. - Press Enter.
Excel will then display the result of the subtraction in the selected cell.
3. SUM Function with Negative Values
Another way to subtract in Excel is to use the SUM function with negative values. To do this, you need to follow the steps below:
- Select the cell where you want the result to appear.
- Type the formula
=SUM(A1,-B1), where A1 and B1 are the cells containing the numbers you want to subtract. - Press Enter.
Excel will then display the result of the subtraction in the selected cell.
Subtraction Using Excel Formulas
Excel also provides some formulas that can be used to subtract numbers. Here are some examples:
1. MIN Function
The MIN function in Excel returns the smallest number from a range of cells. To use the MIN function for subtraction, you need to follow the steps below:
- Select the cell where you want the result to appear.
- Type the formula
=MIN(A1,B1)*-1, where A1 and B1 are the cells containing the numbers you want to subtract. - Press Enter.
Excel will then display the result of the subtraction in the selected cell.
2. SUM Function with a Negative Range
Another way to subtract in Excel is to use the SUM function with a negative range. To do this, you need to follow the steps below:
- Select the cell where you want the result to appear.
- Type the formula
=SUM(A1:B1)*-1, where A1 and B1 are the cells containing the numbers you want to subtract. - Press Enter.
Excel will then display the result of the subtraction in the selected cell.
Conclusion
Subtracting numbers in Excel is a simple task, and Excel provides several ways to do it. You can use the subtraction formula, Excel functions, or Excel formulas to get the difference between two numbers. By using these methods, you can perform subtraction easily and quickly in Excel.
