Beyond SUM and AVERAGE, a small handful of functions cover most beginner needs.
| Function | What it does |
|---|---|
| =IF(A1>50,"Pass","Fail") | A decision — one result if the condition is true, another if false |
| =COUNT(A1:A10) | How many cells in the range contain a number |
| =COUNTIF(A1:A10,"Yes") | How many cells match a specific condition |
| =MAX(A1:A10) / =MIN(A1:A10) | The largest or smallest value in the range |
All four follow the same shape as SUM and AVERAGE — a function name, then the cells to work on inside parentheses.
=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_range, column_number, FALSE) searches down the first column of a range for a match, then returns a value from a chosen column in that same row — the function behind "look up this ID and give me the matching name." It's the single most-used function beyond the basics, worth returning to once the four above feel comfortable.