In MS Excel, columns can be multiplied in at least two ways: with or without intermediate products, if there is no need for such products. To do this, use standard functions from the group of mathematical: "PRODUCT" and "SUMPRODUCT".
Instructions
Step 1
Open an Excel workbook with the required data. For example, suppose you have a table with two columns of data: "volume" and "density". From these, you need to calculate the total mass of several substances.
Step 2
Place the cursor in the table cell where the result will be written. In this case, it is the cell next to the "total mass" column. Click the insert function (fx) icon on the main toolbar. This will bring up a window for selecting the required function. It can also be called by pressing the autosum sign Σ and selecting "Other functions …" in the drop-down menu.
Step 3
In the window that appears, select the group of functions "mathematical" and find "SUMPRODUCT" in it. A window will appear where you need to enter the data ranges for which you want to calculate the result. This can be done in several ways.
Step 4
Just select the first required range with the cursor, and its designation will appear in the "Array 1" field. Next to it, the numerical series corresponding to the selected data area will be displayed. The same can be done by specifying the required data range manually in the C2: C6 format.
Step 5
In the "Array 2" field, specify the next data range in one way or another. You can enter from 2 to 30 arrays for this function. Please note that to calculate this function, it is necessary that the numeric series are entered into the table with the same bit depth. Those. if data in one range is specified with hundredth precision, then when multiplying by integer values, they must also be written in a format with hundredth precision, for example, 11, 00.
Step 6
In this way, you get the sum of the pairwise products of two data series without intermediate calculations. If you need to get the same result, but with the indication of each pairwise product, for example, to further calculate the percentage of the mass fractions of substances, use the "PRODUCT" function.
Step 7
Call the specified function in one of the above ways. She is also in the math group. Here you will have to fill in the fields "Number 1", "Number 2", etc. In the "Number 1" field, specify the first cell from the first multiplied range, in the next field - the first cell from the second range, and so on. You can specify up to 30 arguments. Click OK.
Step 8
Autocomplete the cells. To do this, grab the lower right corner of the cell with the formula with the cursor and, while holding down the left mouse button, drag the selection area to the height of the column. The program will automatically multiply every next pair of cells. At the end of the resulting series, insert the autosum function, if necessary.
