In the examples presented so far, all the arguments have been cell or range references. You can also use numbers, text, logical values, range names, arrays, and error values as arguments.

Numeric Values

The arguments to a function can be numeric. For example, the SUM function in the formula =SUM(327,209,176) adds the numbers 327, 209, and 176. Usually, however, you enter the numbers you want to use in cells of a worksheet and then use references to those cells as arguments to your functions.

Text Values

You can also use text as an argument to a function. For example, in the formula =TEXT(NOW( ),"mmm d, yyyy") in the second argument to the TEXT function, mmm d, yyyy, is a text argument specifically recognized by Excel. It specifies a pattern for converting the serial date value returned by NOW into a text string. Text arguments can be text strings enclosed in quotation marks or references to cells that contain text.

Logical Values

The arguments to a few functions specify only that an option is either set or not set; you can use the logical values TRUE to set an option and FALSE to specify that the option isn’t set. A logical expression returns the value TRUE or FALSE to the worksheet or the formula containing the expression. For example, the first argument of the IF function in the formula =IF(A1=TRUE,"Future ", "Past ")&"History" is a logical expression that uses the value in cell A1. If the value in A1 is TRUE, the expression A1=TRUE evaluates to TRUE, the IF function returns Future, and the formula returns the text Future History to the worksheet.

Named References

You can use a range name as an argument to a function. For example, if you use the Insert, Name, Define command to assign the name QtrlyIncome to the range C3:C6, you can use the formula =SUM(QtrlyIncome) to total the numbers in cells C3, C4, C5, and C6.

Arrays

You can use an array as an argument in a function. Some functions, such as TREND and TRANSPOSE, require array arguments; other functions don’t require array arguments but do accept them. Arrays can be composed of numbers, text, or logical values.

Mixed Argument Types

You can mix argument types within a function. For example, the formula =AVERAGE(Group1,A3,5*3) uses a range name (Group1), a cell reference (A3), and a numeric expression (5*3) to arrive at a single value. All three are acceptable.