How does a spreadsheet formula differ from a function?

How does a spreadsheet formula differ from a function?

• A. A function is a user-created expression; a formula is a built-in operation
• B. A formula is a user-created expression; a function is a built-in operation with predefined behavior
• C. Both are identical
• D. A formula can only reference numbers; a function cannot

Answer: (B)

The central idea is that a formula is a user-constructed expression you type to compute a value, while a function is a built-in operation with predefined behavior provided by the spreadsheet program. You can build formulas by combining operators and cell references or constants, and you can also include functions inside a formula, like =A1 + SUM(B1:B5). The SUM function, for example, is a predefined operation that returns the total of its arguments, and you call it with arguments inside parentheses. This separation explains why the correct description says a formula is user-created, whereas a function is a built-in operation with predefined behavior. Choices that imply functions are user-created expressions or that formulas are limited to numbers don’t fit because formulas can reference ranges, text in some cases, and other results, and functions are fixed, reusable calculations defined by the software.

The central idea is that a formula is a user-constructed expression you type to compute a value, while a function is a built-in operation with predefined behavior provided by the spreadsheet program. You can build formulas by combining operators and cell references or constants, and you can also include functions inside a formula, like =A1 + SUM(B1:B5). The SUM function, for example, is a predefined operation that returns the total of its arguments, and you call it with arguments inside parentheses. This separation explains why the correct description says a formula is user-created, whereas a function is a built-in operation with predefined behavior. Choices that imply functions are user-created expressions or that formulas are limited to numbers don’t fit because formulas can reference ranges, text in some cases, and other results, and functions are fixed, reusable calculations defined by the software.