Dave Bruns

The Excel SQRT function returns the square root of a positive number. SQRT returns an error if number is negative.

The SQRT function takes one argument, number, which must be a numeric value. If number is not numeric, SQRT returns a #VALUE! error. If number...Read more

The EXP function finds the value of the constant e raised to a given number, so you can think of the EXP function as e^(number), where e ≈ 2.718.  The exponential function can be used to get the value of e by passing the number 1 as the argument....Read more

The Excel FACT function returns the factorial of a given number. In mathematics, the factorial of a non-negative integer n is the product of all positive integers less than or equal to n, represented with the syntax n!

FACT takes just...Read more

The DEGREES function takes an angle in radians and converts it to degrees. Radians measure angles using the radius of a circle, as illustrated in this image:

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The ABS function returns the absolute value of a number. You can think about absolute value as a number's distance from zero on a number line. ABS converts negative numbers to positive numbers. Positive numbers and zero (0) are unaffected.

The ABS function takes just one...Read more

The PI function returns the value of π (pi) accurate to 15 digits. The value of π represents a half-turn in radians and appears in many formulas relating to the circle. The PI function takes no arguments:...Read more

The RADIANS function takes an angle in degrees and converts it to radians. Radians measure angles using the radius of a circle. For example, to convert a 45 degree angle to radians the formula is:

=RADIANS(45) // Returns 0.785 or π/4

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The TAN function returns the tangent of an angle provided in radians. For example, given the π/4 as input, the function returns 1.0 as output.

=TAN(PI()/4) // Returns 1

To supply an angle in degrees, use the...Read more

You can use the NPER function to get the number of payment periods for a loan (or an investment), given the amount, the interest rate, and a periodic payment amount.

Notes

• pmt normally includes principal and interest but not taxes, reserve payments, or fees.
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The RATE function returns the interest rate per period of an annuity. You can use RATE to calculate the periodic interest rate, then multiply as required to derive an annual interest rate. The RATE function is commonly multiplied by 12 to arrive at an annual rate.

The RATE function takes...Read more