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Formulas and Functions

Calculate with SUM, AVG/AVERAGE, IF, and VLOOKUP, reference cells and ranges in A1 style, and use arithmetic and comparison operators to turn raw data into answers.

Turn data into answers

Formulas are what make a spreadsheet more than a table. In StretchSheets, any cell that begins with = is treated as a formula: it calculates a result from other cells and updates when those cells change. This article covers every formula capability the grid supports.

Writing a formula

  1. Click the cell where you want the result.
  2. Type = to start a formula.
  3. Enter your expression — reference other cells by their address (A1, B7), use functions, and combine them with operators.
  4. Press Enter. The cell shows the calculated result; the formula bar shows the formula itself.

To review or edit a formula later, select the cell and press F2, or read it in the formula bar at the top of the grid.

Cell references and ranges

  • A single cell is referenced by its A1 address: column letter + row number, e.g. C4.
  • A range spans a rectangle of cells using a colon: A1:C10 means every cell from A1 to C10.
  • References update live — if C4 changes, every formula that reads C4 recalculates.

Supported functions

StretchSheets supports these functions today:

SUM — add up a range =SUM(A1:A10) adds every number in the range. Blank and non-numeric cells are ignored, so a column with a few gaps still totals correctly.

AVG / AVERAGE — the mean of a range =AVG(B2:B8) (or =AVERAGE(B2:B8)) returns the average of the numbers in the range. Both spellings work identically.

IF — branch on a condition =IF(C2>0,"Yes","No") evaluates the condition, returning the first value when true and the second when false. Conditions use comparison operators (see below), and the results can be text (in quotes) or numbers.

VLOOKUP — look up a value in a table =VLOOKUP(A2,F2:H20,2) searches the first column of the range F2:H20 for the value in A2 and returns the value from the specified column (here, the 2nd column of the range). Use it to pull a price, name, or status from a reference table by key.

Arithmetic and comparison operators

  • Arithmetic: add, subtract, multiply, and divide with +, -, *, and /. For example =B2-C2 or =B2*1.13.
  • Comparison (used inside IF and conditions): >, <, >=, <=, =, and <> (not equal). For example =IF(D2>=100,"Bulk","Standard").

A realistic example

Imagine an order sheet. Column B holds quantity, column C holds unit price. In D2 type =B2*C2 to get a line total, then copy it down. At the bottom of column D, type =SUM(D2:D50) for the grand total. In E2, add =IF(D2>500,"Priority","Standard") to flag large orders. Finally, if you keep a customer table in G2:I40, use =VLOOKUP(A2,G2:I40,3) to pull each customer's region into your order rows. With four formula types you've built a live, self-calculating order tracker.

Tips

  • Reference ranges rather than typing numbers so your formulas keep working as data grows — =SUM(B2:B100) beats adding cells one by one.
  • Wrap text results in double quotes inside IF ("Yes", "No"); numbers don't need quotes.
  • For VLOOKUP, make sure the value you're searching for lives in the first column of the lookup range, and count the return column starting at 1 from that first column.
  • Use <> for "not equal" in conditions — for example =IF(A2<>"","Filled","Empty").

Troubleshooting

  • The cell shows my text instead of a result. A formula must start with =. If the cell shows SUM(A1:A10) as literal text, you likely missed the leading equals sign.
  • A formula returns an error or unexpected value. Check that the referenced cells contain numbers (not text) for math functions, and that your range addresses are correct (A1:A10, not A1-A10).
  • VLOOKUP isn't finding a match. Confirm the search key exactly matches a value in the first column of the lookup range, and that the return-column number falls within the range's width.
  • My total ignores some rows. SUM and AVG skip non-numeric cells. If a value looks like a number but is stored as text, retype it as a plain number.

FAQ

Which functions are available?
SUM, AVG/AVERAGE, IF, and VLOOKUP, plus A1 ranges, basic arithmetic, and comparison operators. These cover the large majority of everyday spreadsheet math.

Do formulas recalculate automatically?
Yes. When a referenced cell changes, dependent formulas update, and results are saved with the workbook.

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