How do you start typing a formula in an Excel cell?
ABy typing a number
BBy typing a letter
CBy typing =
DBy typing a cell reference
Answer:
C. By typing =
Read Explanation:
The Essential First Step
To initiate any formula or function within an Excel cell, the absolute first character you must type is the equals sign (=).
This equals sign acts as a signal to Excel, telling the software that the subsequent characters represent a calculation or a command, rather than just static text or numbers.
Why the Equals Sign?
Excel's design mandates this convention. Without the leading equals sign, Excel would interpret any input, like `SUM(A1:A5)`, as plain text.
By typing `=`, you ensure that Excel attempts to evaluate the expression that follows.
