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In school, you learned formulas used to calculate math problems. Microsoft Excel uses these same formulas to perform calculations in a spreadsheet.
A formula can be a combination of values (numbers or cell references) and math operators (+, -, /, *, =) into an algebraic expression. Excel requires every formula to begin with an equal sign (=).
The following table illustrates the mathematical operators learned in school and those represented in Excel 2003.

	School	Excel 2003
Addition	+	+
Subtraction	-	-
Multiplication	X	*
Division	/	/
Equals	=	=

The result of a formula-the answer to 2+3, for example-displays in the cell on the Excel worksheet. The formula is visible only in the formula bar. A formula's result will change as different numbers are entered into the cells included in the formula's definition.