Excel is a great tool for automating numerical tasks. It is as basic as arithmetic and as complex as amortisation. The program puts calculating tools to use, embedding math into the spreadsheet so the results of your calculations appear instantaneously. It does this with formulas. A formula or equation is typed right into a cell. The program performs the operation on the data you enter and shows the numerical result in your cell. Once you have the basic formula set, you can even copy that formula anywhere on the spreadsheet. This way, you can repeat the process as you need to, figuring many percentage savings at once.

  • Excel is a great tool for automating numerical tasks.
  • The program performs the operation on the data you enter and shows the numerical result in your cell.

Open a new Excel spreadsheet.

Create a table to hold your data in the spreadsheet. Type "Item" in cell A1. Type "Original Price" in cell B1. Type "Discounted Price" in cell C1. Type "Savings" in cell D1. Type "Percentage Savings" in cell E1.

  • Open a new Excel spreadsheet.
  • Type "Savings" in cell D1.

Type "=B2-C2" in cell D2. This will calculate the price difference.

Type "=D2/B2" in cell E2. This will figure your percentage savings.

Click on the tab at the top of spreadsheet with the letter "E." This highlights the entire E column. Select "Format" from the top menu. Select "Cells." Click on "Percentage," then "OK."

  • This will calculate the price difference.
  • Click on the tab at the top of spreadsheet with the letter "E." This highlights the entire E column.

Enter your data. In cell A2, type the item's name. In cell B2, enter its original price. In cell C2, enter the discounted price. In cell D2, the cost savings appears. In cell E2, the percentage savings appears.

  • In cell A2, type the item's name.
  • In cell C2, enter the discounted price.

Extend your table for more cost savings calculations. Go to cell D2. Select "Edit" from the top menu. Click "Copy." Click in cell D3 and drag downward in the D column, highlighting as many cells as you need for your data. Select "Edit" from the top menu bar. Click "Paste." This copies the formula into the cells. It does not copy specific data.

  • Copy the percentage calculation.
  • Select "Edit" from the top menu.

Copy the percentage calculation. Go to cell E2. Select "Edit" from the top menu. Click "Copy." Click in cell E3 and drag downward in the E column, highlighting as many cells as you need for your data. Select "Edit" from the top menu bar. Click "Paste."

  • Copy the percentage calculation.
  • Select "Edit" from the top menu.

Enter new data as you did previously.