Alternatively, it may be as complex as calculating the standard deviation of a sample, or a hyperbolic tangent of a number. A function may be as simple as adding two numbers together, or finding the average of a list of numbers. Many of these functions are for use with numbers, but many others are used with dates and times, or even text. Then, in Part 2, I'll talk about how to work with them, and give some examples of what they can do.Ĭalc includes over 350 functions to help you analyze and reference data. In Part 1 of this article, I'll give a brief overview of functions and how they operate. If you understand functions, then you can start to use the real power of a spreadsheet. Beginners might be content to use Calc for lists, but, for advanced users, functions are the main reason for spreadsheets. All you have to do is add the arguments, and the calculation is automatically made for you. A function is a pre-defined calculation entered in a cell to help you analyze or manipulate data in a spreadsheet.

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