# Simple Excel question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574 "2008-05-25T17:25:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/1 "2008-05-25T17:25:50Z")
In MS Excel, how do I make the cell in the column E of the current row equal the product of the cells in columns D and C in the current row? ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/2 "2008-05-25T17:42:16Z")
GQ surely, but I’ll take a stab at typing =(C1+D1) into the cell E1. Replace the number 1 with whatever row number you’re working with. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/3 "2008-05-25T17:54:01Z")
[QUOTE=Pushkin] GQ surely, but I’ll take a stab at typing =(C1+D1) into the cell E1. Replace the number 1 with whatever row number you’re working with. [/QUOTE] I believe you need =SUM(C1+D1) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/4 "2008-05-25T17:56:41Z")
[QUOTE=Pushkin] GQ surely, but I’ll take a stab at typing =(C1+D1) into the cell E1. Replace the number 1 with whatever row number you’re working with. [/QUOTE] I would have \*sworn \*I put it in GQ! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/5 "2008-05-25T17:59:49Z")
OK, I guess I can work with the sum function instead of the product, it will still be the same. But I don’t want to say SUM(C1, D1). I want SUM(C[CurrentROW], D[CurrentRow]) IOW, I trying to get a general forumula whereby I have excel look at the \*row \*I am in, go to column C and take that number. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/6 "2008-05-25T18:11:06Z")
[QUOTE=brownie55] I believe you need =SUM(C1+D1) [/QUOTE] This is totally incorrect. The format is a colon. I’m finding it difficult to understand exactly what you’re looking for, but I’ll take a stab that, you want a single cell in column E to equal the product of the cells in C and D? Is the cell in E in the same row as the numbers you want added in C and D? If so, then E1 should be =SUM(C1:D1), and if you copy and paste this formula, or drag the bottom-right corner of the cell in E down all the rows you want to effect, then it will alter the 1s to the particular row the formula is in - i.e. if you put the formula in E1 and paste it into E9, then Excel will _automatically_ update the row number to =SUM(C9:D9) You might be wanting something more complex, but you’re not explaining it very comprehensively… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/7 "2008-05-25T18:18:09Z")
Correcting my correction: **brownie55** I apologise; didn’t realise this was an allowable format. However, the colon-range is (in my experience anyway) a more normal usage, and better for the OP - in case he wants to add any more columns in. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/8 "2008-05-25T18:19:16Z")
If you type =PRODUCT(C1, D1) into E1, and copy it into E2, Excel will automatically adjust the row number for you. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/9 "2008-05-25T18:32:02Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Correcting my correction: **brownie55** I apologise; didn’t realise this was an allowable format. However, the colon-range is (in my experience anyway) a more normal usage, and better for the OP - in case he wants to add any more columns in. [/QUOTE] No problem. And the more I look, the less certain I am of what the OP wants exactly, so I’ll bow out. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/10 "2008-05-25T18:32:23Z")
=PRODUCT() will _multiply_ the numbers, not add them! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/11 "2008-05-25T18:47:40Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] If you type =PRODUCT(C1, D1) into E1, and copy it into E2, Excel will automatically adjust the row number for you. [/QUOTE] Thank you, that is what I wanted to know. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/12 "2008-05-25T18:51:05Z")
[QUOTE=Khadaji] Thank you, that is what I wanted to know. [/QUOTE] A) I said words to that effect in post #6, and b) how did **ultrafilter** manage to give you a formula that is totally different from what you appeared to ask for, and yet to your satisfaction?! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/13 "2008-05-25T18:54:53Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] A) I said words to that effect in post #6, and b) how did **ultrafilter** manage to give you a formula that is totally different from what you appeared to ask for, and yet to your satisfaction?! [/QUOTE] My apologies. Thank you for your help. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/14 "2008-05-25T19:00:50Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] If you type =PRODUCT(C1, D1) into E1, and copy it into E2, Excel will automatically adjust the row number for you. [/QUOTE] Even easier: highlight E1, and drag the right corner down as far as you want to go - it will automatically copy & paste into all those cells. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/15 "2008-05-25T20:02:26Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] A) I said words to that effect in post #6, and b) how did **ultrafilter** manage to give you a formula that is totally different from what you appeared to ask for, and yet to your satisfaction?! [/QUOTE] The OP asked for the > [@](#): > > In MS Excel, how do I make the cell in the column E of the current row equal the **product** of the cells in columns D and C in the current row? You provided information on the SUM function. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/16 "2008-05-25T20:07:40Z")
[QUOTE=atomicbadgerrace] You provided information on the SUM function. [/QUOTE] :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/17 "2008-05-25T22:42:04Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] If you type =PRODUCT(C1, D1) into E1, and copy it into E2, Excel will automatically adjust the row number for you. [/QUOTE] There’s a drag and copy function isn’t there? Click on the bottom right of a selected cell and drag it down across the cells you want to copy the equation to, it’ll adjust the row number too. [QUOTE=jjimm] =PRODUCT() will _multiply_ the numbers, not add them! [/QUOTE] :smack: I didn’t see “product”, so yeah, I’m right about the forum, wrong about the equation 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/18 "2008-05-25T22:53:52Z")
Thanks to all who contributed. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-excel-question/450574/19 "2008-05-26T04:04:19Z")
Once you get the desired result in E1, select it and as many cells as you want in the column, then do Fill Down. Excel will automatically adjust the formulas for rows 2, 3, etc. (IIRC, YMMV, etc. I haven’t created a new spread in a while.)