How to subtract in Excel with a formula

Excel is a spreadsheet application that has a large number of features. However, the software does not have a subtraction function, which seems obvious to include. As such, Excel users manually enter formulas in the function bar to subtract numbers.

Although this may seem like a big inconvenience, it is quite easy to do without a subtraction function. In this article, we’ll cover some of the various ways you can deduce values ​​in Excel spreadsheets.

Subtract in Excel using formulas

Given the multitude of ways you might need to subtract values ​​and cells in Excel,

Subtract by including values ​​in the formula

You do not need to enter any values ​​in the spreadsheet cells to subtract numbers. Instead, you can include the values ​​to be subtracted within the formula itself.

1. First, select a cell to add the formula.
2. Then click on the Excel function bar and enter ‘=‘ followed by the values ​​you need to deduce. For example, enter ‘=25-5‘ in the function bar and press Get into. The formula cell will return the value 20.

Subtract Spreadsheet Cell References

However, most Excel users will need to subtract the numbers entered in the columns and rows of the spreadsheet. To subtract cell values, you’ll need to include their row and column references in the formula.

1. For example, enter the values ​​’3. 4. 5‘ and ‘145‘in the cells B3 and B4 in a blank Excel spreadsheet as shown in the snapshot below.
2. Now select the cell B5 and click on the fx bar to enter a formula. Enter the formula ‘=B3-B4‘ and press the Return key. B5 now it will return value 200 as shown below.

Subtract a number from each value within a range of cells

If you need to subtract a single value from each number within a range of cells, you can copy the formula to other cells.

1. For example, enter the values ​​’25,’ ‘35‘ and ‘55‘in the cells C3:C5.
2. Then select the cell D3enter the formula ‘=C3-5‘ in the function bar and press the button Return key. D3 now it will subtract 5 from 25 in the cell C3. Copy the formula into D3 to the other cells below it by selecting D3by clicking on the bottom right corner of the cell and dragging it over the next ones as shown below.
3. Now the cells directly below D3 also subtract 5 from the numbers in C4 and C5.

Subtract the total of a range of cells from a single value

What if you need to subtract a column total for a group of cells from a single value? One way to do this would be to enter a SUM function in a cell that sums the range and then subtract that total with a separate formula. However, you can also subtract the total from a range of cells by including ADDITION within a formula.

1. For example, enter the values ​​’Four. Five,’ ‘55‘ and ‘75‘in the cells B7 to B9.
2. Then, enter ‘200‘ in cell B11. Select cell B12click on the fx bar and entry ‘=B11-SUM(B7:B9)‘ in the formula bar. Cell B12 It will then return the value of 25 as shown directly below. Which effectively deducts the total cells. B7:B9 from 200 in cell B11.

Subtract two or more total values ​​from the cell range

You can also subtract cell range totals without entering ADDITION functions in the spreadsheet first. Instead, add the cell range references to a formula and subtract them.

1. For example, enter the numbers ‘25,’ ‘fifteen‘ and ‘35‘in the cells C7:C9. Now you can deduct the total C7:C9 range of cells from B7:B9 range entered previously.
2. Select C11 as cell to add the formula and then enter ‘=SUM(B7:B9)-SUM(C7:C9)‘ in the function bar. Press Get into to add the function to the spreadsheet, which will return the value 100 in C11. So, that is deducting the C7:C9 range of cells from B7:B9 total cell range, which is otherwise 175 – 75.

Subtracting percentage values ​​from figures

To subtract a percentage value, such as 50%, from a number, you must enter the value in a cell formatted as a percentage. You can then add a formula that subtracts the percentage from a number in another cell.

1. As an example, enter the value ‘150‘ in cell E3. You should convert the cell phone F3 to percentage format by right-clicking on the cell and selecting Format Cells > Number > Percentage > OK. Get into ‘fifty‘ in F3which will then be in percentage format as shown directly below.
2. Now you can add a formula that subtracts 50% from 150, click on cell G3 and enter the formula ‘=E3-(F3*E3)‘ in the function bar. Cell G3 will return a value of 75, which is 50% of 150. Therefore, the formula has deduced 75 from 150.

Subtract values ​​in multiple worksheets

Excel doesn’t limit you to subtracting values ​​within inpidual worksheets. As such, you can subtract cell numbers in one worksheet from those in another.

1. For example, enter ’55’ in the cell B14 on Sheet1 of a spreadsheet.
2. Then click on the Sheet2 tab at the bottom of the application window to open a blank spreadsheet. Enter ‘5’ in the cell B3 of Sheet2. So this formula will subtract B3 in Sheet2 of B14 in Sheet1.
3. Now click B4 in Sheet2 to add the formula to that cell. Enter the formula ‘=Sheet1!B14-Sheet2!B3‘ in the Excel function bar and press Return. Cell B4 will now deduct 5 in B3 on Sheet 2 from the value of B14 in Sheet1. The cell returns a value of, as you probably guessed, 50.

Subtract in Excel

These are some of the subtraction formulas that subtract values ​​in Excel spreadsheets. You can copy the above formulas to your spreadsheets with the Ctrl+C and Ctrl + V hotkeys and edit your cell references as needed. Look at this Guide for technology addicts if you need to subtract dates in Excel.

Do you know other ways to subtract values ​​in Excel? Share your experience below.