For example, there is data like the picture below, four numbers stored in different columns. What is the formula for multiplying these four numbers?
Multiplication Formula Using the Asterisk “*” Sign
The multiplication formula in Excel uses an asterisk “*” sign, different from the sign used for the multiplication formula in mathematical equation (using a cross “x” sign).
The following steps create the multiplication formula using the asterisk sign.
- Place the cursor in cell E1
- Type the equal sign “=”
- Point the cursor to cell A1 (Cell containing number 8)
- Type an asterisk “*”
- Point the cursor to cell B1 (Cell containing number 7)
- Type an asterisk “*”
- Point the cursor to cell C1 (Cell containing number 6)
- Type an asterisk “*”
- Point the cursor to cell D1 (Cell containing number 5)
- Press the ENTER key
The result is as shown below.
Multiplication Formula Using the PRODUCT Function
There is no MULTIPLY function, to create a multiplication formula in Excel, use the excel PRODUCT function.
The following steps create the multiplication formula using the PRODUCT function.
- Place the cursor in cell E2
- Type = PRODUCT(
- Point the cursor to cell A2 (Cell containing number 8)
- Press the SHIFT key and hold it
- Point the cursor to cell D2 (Cell containing number 5)
- Type the closing parenthesis “)”
- Press the ENTER key
The result is as shown below.
The Advantage of Using the Asterisk “*” Sign
The advantage of using an asterisk sign in a multiplication formula is you can use it as excel AND Function replacement.
Read the article “How to Use the Excel AND Function” for a more detailed explanation of how to use an asterisk sign instead of the AND function.
The Advantage of Using the PRODUCT Function
The advantage of using the PRODUCT function is no change in formula length regardless of the number of numbers to be multiplied, only the PRODUCT function and a range as the number argument.
If you use an asterisk sign, the formula length will increase as you increase the number to be multiplied.
