To multiply cells in Excel, you use the asterisk symbol (*) within a formula. Here's how:
Basic Multiplication
- To multiply numbers directly, use the following format:
=number1*number2. For example,=2*8will result in 16. - Important: Every Excel formula must start with an equals sign (=).
Multiplying Cell Values
- To multiply the values contained within two or more cells, refer to those cells within the formula using cell references, like
A1,B2, etc. - The basic structure is:
=cell1*cell2. For example, *`=A1A2` multiplies the values in cell A1 by the value in cell A2**. - You can extend this to multiply multiple cells:
=A1*A2*A3.
Examples in a Table
| Cell A1 | Cell B1 | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 10 | =A1*B1 |
50 |
| 2 | 7 | =A1*B1 |
14 |
| 3 | 4 | =A1*B1 |
12 |
| 15 | 2 | =A1*B1 |
30 |
| 6 | 10 | =A1*B1 |
60 |
Practical Tips
- Click & Drag: After you create your formula in one cell, you can drag the small square at the bottom right corner of the cell (the "fill handle") down or across to apply the same formula to multiple rows or columns. Excel will automatically update the cell references, such as from
A1*B1toA2*B2,A3*B3, and so on. - Multiplication with Constants: You can combine cell references with fixed numbers. For instance,
=A1*0.1would multiply the value in cell A1 by 0.1. - Using the Product Function Although not needed for simple multiplication, the
PRODUCT()function can also be used. For instance,=PRODUCT(A1,B1)will give the same result asA1*B1. It's particularly useful when multiplying a range of cells, such as=PRODUCT(A1:A5).
By using these methods, you can easily perform multiplication in your Excel spreadsheets.
