Excel Formula for Calculating the Difference Between Columns A and B

Objective

To create an Excel formula that calculates the difference between the values in Column A and Column B.

Formula

The formula to compute the difference between Column A and Column B for a specific row (e.g., row 1) is as follows:

=A1 - B1

Explanation of the Formula Components

• A1: This refers to the value in Column A, row 1.
• -: This is the subtraction operator that indicates the operation to perform (subtract Column B value from Column A value).
• B1: This refers to the value in Column B, row 1.

Application

1. Enter the Formula: Click on the cell where you want to display the difference (e.g., Cell C1).
2. Input the Formula: Type =A1 - B1 and press Enter. This will calculate the difference between the values in A1 and B1.
3. Copy Down the Formula: If you want to apply the same operation for multiple rows, drag the fill handle (a small square at the bottom-right corner of the cell) downwards to copy the formula to other cells in Column C (e.g., C2, C3, etc.), which will automatically adjust the cell references accordingly.

Practical Example

Assume the following data:

After applying the formula in Column C:

• For C1: =10 - 3 results in 7
• For C2: =20 - 15 results in 5
• For C3: =30 - 25 results in 5

Conclusion

The formula =A1 - B1 efficiently calculates the difference between the values of Column A and Column B in Excel. Users are encouraged to explore deeper data manipulation skills through courses available on the Enterprise DNA Platform for enhanced proficiency.