How to use the PRODUCT function
What is the PRODUCT function?
The PRODUCT function returns the product of the numbers given in the argument.
What is a product?
A product is what you get when you multiply two numbers.
What is multiplication?
It is one of the four basic arithmetic operations. Multiplication means adding a number together multiple times. It is a faster way to add the same number over and over again.
For example:
5 x 3 means adding 5 together 3 times:
5 + 5 + 5 = 15
So multiplication is a shorthand for repeated addition.
What is repeated multiplication?
The PRODUCT faction returns the product of two or more numbers. If the numbers are repeated you can use exponentiation to calculate the result.
Repeated multiplication involves using multiplication to find the result of multiplying a number by itself multiple times.
For example:
- Repeatedly multiplying 5 by itself 3 times is written: 5 x 5 x 5
- The result is:
5 x 5 x 5 = 125
Repeated multiplication and exponentiation describe the same fundamental mathematical operation, 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 24
Exponentiation lets you shorten repeated multiplication considerably.
The POWER function lets you calculate a number multiplied x repeated times.
For example 5 * 5 * 5 = 53
=POWER(5,3) equals 125
you also have the alternative to use the ^character like this:
=5^3 equals 125
The product function multiplies values in excel, how can I multiply fractions and return a fraction?
To multiply fractions and keep the result as a fraction in Excel, you can use the PRODUCT function combined with the FRACTION format:
For example:
=PRODUCT(1/2, 2/3)
Apply the Fraction number format to the cell:
- Press with right mouse button on on the cell you want to format.
- Press with mouse on "Format Cells"
- Go to Number tab > Select Fraction as the category
- Select a type: Up to one digit, up to two digits, and up to three digits.
This will display the result as a fraction.
So for the example above, it would display:
1/3
Instead of the decimal 0.3333333333333333 This lets you keep fraction multiplications in exact fractional form, however, only up to three digits maximum.
You also have the option to use the TEXT function instead of formatting cells.
=TEXT(PRODUCT(1/2, 2/3),"?/?")
The downside with the text function is that it returns a text value, it is not possible to perform math operations on a text value.
PRODUCT function Syntax
PRODUCT(number1, [number2], ... )
PRODUCT function Arguments
| number1 | Required. The number you want to multiply. |
| [number2] | Optional. Additional numbers you want to multiply. |
Comments
You don't need to use a comma delimiting character between each number, simply supply the cell reference to all numbers in the first argument.
Empty cells, boolean values and text values are ignored.
The product function allows you to have up to 254 arguments.
=PRODUCT(B3:D3, B9:D9) is the same as =B3*C3*D3*B9*C9*D9
PRODUCT function example
Formula in cell D3:
'PRODUCT' function examples
The following article has a formula that contains the PRODUCT function.
The asterisk character allows you to multiply numbers and boolean values in an Excel formula. It can also be used […]
Functions in 'Math and trigonometry' category
The PRODUCT function function is one of many functions in the 'Math and trigonometry' category.
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