How to create a formula in excel for multiple cells

Excel is essentially a calculation engine. Just like a calculator, it takes questions in the form of formulas, for example, =8+4, and returns answers.

Formulas are essential to manipulating data and extracting useful information from your Excel workbooks.

Formulas make Excel roar to life as it were.

Although formulas are powerful tools they need to be used in an efficient manner for maximum benefit.

Suppose you have a dataset that requires the same formula in an entire column. Laboriously entering the formula in one cell at a time wastes time and effort.

This tutorial shows you 7 time-saving techniques for applying a formula at once to an entire column in Excel.

Method #1: Double-click the Fill Handle

The following is a dataset showing the quantities of various items bought and their prices. 

We want to apply a formula in column D to calculate the total cost of each line of items bought.

We will enter a formula in cell D2 and double-click the fill handle to copy the formula down the column.

Here are the steps to do this:

1. Select cell D2 and type in the fol
   how to apply formula in excel shortcut
   how to apply formula in excel sheet for entire column