11 Hidden Excel Functions You Should Know
Excel offers numerous functions that cater to specialized tasks in math, engineering, statistics, text manipulation, and more. Here’s a breakdown of some lesser-known but highly useful functions:
Mathematical Functions
FLOOR(value, multiple)
- Rounds down to the nearest specified multiple.
- Example:
=FLOOR(4.4, 2)→ Rounds 4.4 to 4.
- CEILING(value, multiple)
- Rounds up to the nearest specified multiple.
- Example:
=CEILING(5.6, 2)→ Rounds 5.6 to 6.
- PI()
- Returns the value of Pi (3.14159…).
- Example:
=PI()*10→ Multiplies Pi by 10.
- ARABIC(text) and ROMAN(value, form)
- Converts Roman numerals to Arabic and vice versa.
- Example:
=ARABIC("MMIM")→ Converts Roman numeral to 2999.=ROMAN(2999, 4)→ Converts 2999 to simplified Roman numeral “MMIM”.
Statistical Functions
- MODE.SNGL(array1, [array2, …])
- Finds the most frequently occurring value in a range.
- Example:
=MODE.SNGL(A1:A5)→ Returns the mode of values in A1:A5.
Engineering Functions
- CONVERT(value, from, to)
- Converts a value from one unit to another.
- Example:
=CONVERT(A1, "C", "F")→ Converts Celsius to Fahrenheit.
- DELTA(value1, [value2])
- Tests if two values are equal (returns
1for true,0for false). - Example:
=DELTA(2, -2)→ Returns 0.
- Tests if two values are equal (returns
- GESTEP(value, [step])
- Tests if a value is greater than or equal to a threshold.
- Example:
=GESTEP(A1, 4)→ Returns 1 if A1 ≥ 4, else 0.
Lookup and Reference Functions
ADDRESS(row, column, [type], [style], [sheet])
- Returns the address of a cell in text format.
- Example:
=ADDRESS(2, 3, 1, TRUE, "Sheet2")→ Returns “Sheet2!$C$2”.
Text Manipulation Functions
- REPT(text, number)
- Repeats text a specified number of times.
- Example:
=REPT("*", 20)→ Returns “********************”.
Practical Use Cases
| Function | Use Case | Example |
|---|---|---|
| FLOOR/CEILING | Rounding financial or engineering calculations. | =FLOOR(13.7, 5) → 10; =CEILING(13.7, 5) → 15. |
| MODE.SNGL | Identifying popular survey responses. | =MODE.SNGL(A1:A10) → Most frequent value. |
| CONVERT | Changing units in reports (e.g., cm to inches). | =CONVERT(10, "cm", "in"). |
| DELTA | Checking equality in datasets. | =DELTA(A1, B1) → 1 if equal, 0 if not. |
| GESTEP | Testing threshold limits for inventory stock levels. | =GESTEP(50, 100) → Returns 0 (below threshold). |
| ADDRESS | Generating dynamic references in formulas. | =ADDRESS(ROW(B1), COLUMN(B1)) → Returns the address of B1. |
| REPT | Creating visual dividers or placeholders in reports. | =REPT("-", 30) → Returns a 30-character long separator. |
Additional Excel Tips
- Use COUNTBLANK to find the number of empty cells in a range:
=COUNTBLANK(A1:A10). - Combine TEXT with other functions to format numbers or dates dynamically.
- Explore functions like XLOOKUP and FILTER for modern, flexible lookups.
Mastering these unique Excel functions will enhance your productivity and make your data analysis more efficient!