Formula Troubles

[pk1985]

Hey all,

Sort of a novice to excel here...

I'm having a huge amount of difficulty getting excel to understand what I'd like. Essentially, I want to take data I input into three separate columns and have it inputted into an equation. The equation is 0.5(4/3*(pi*a*b*c)). Four-thirds multiplied by pi multiplied by a multiplied by b multiplied by c, all divided by 2.
a, b, and c are essentially values from columns 1,2, and 3.
Each time I input = followed by my equation in the cell I want it to appear (including selecting the appropriate cells from which to import the values of a,b, and c), an error message pops up. If I need to pare down the equation more simple to allow for this to work, I can.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[joeu2004]

Suppose your data are in A2, B2 and C2. In D2 (or some cell in row 2), you might write:

=A2*B2*C2*PI()*4/3/2

or

=A2*B2*C2*PI()*2/3

or if you prefer:

=0.5*(4/3)*PI()*A2*B2*C2

 

[pk1985]

I appreciate your help with this matter. Unfortunately, no matter how I input this, the cell that should display the calculated value has a ‘#NAME?’ Error associated with it. Any tips?

 

[jtakw]

Hi,

Did you input the pi function like PI() , with the brackets exactly like joeu2004 shown in Post # 2 ?

 

[pk1985]

Ah-ha! That did it.

Thank you all for your help. Lifesavers!

 

[jtakw]

You're welcome, welcome to the forum, glad we can help.

FYI, the () is how Excel differentiates an Excel Function compared to the Text/Word PI (i.e., if you type "today" without quotes, in a cell, it's just Text, but if you type "today()" without quotes, now Excel knows you want the TODAY function).

 

[jtakw]

My wording was terrible above, let me rephrase:

FYI, the () is how Excel differentiates an Excel Function compared to the Text/Word PI (i.e., if you type "today" without quotes, in a cell, it's just Text, if you type "=today" or have "today" without quotes anywhere after an equal sign, due to the equal sign, Excel knows you wrote a formula, but "today", by itself is Not a function and is just Text, so you get #NAME? error, if you type "=today()" or anywhere after an equal sign, without quotes, now Excel knows you want the TODAY function).