A recursive formula in Google Sheets is a formula that refers back to its own value in a previous cell or calculation to compute the next value in a sequence. This type of formula is useful for calculations that require the previous result to determine the next one, such as calculating compound interest, Fibonacci sequences, or running totals.
Follow the steps below to use the recursive formula in Google Sheets.
Input the daily sales data in column B, starting from cell B2. This will be your starting point for the recursive formula.
In cell C2, input the first value for your running total, which corresponds to the first day's sales. Simply enter =B2.
Move to cell C3 and enter the formula that calculates the running total by adding the current day's sales to the previous total. The formula is =C2+B3. This step begins the recursive process.
Click on cell C3 to see the small square dot at its bottom right corner. Drag this dot down to apply the formula to the remaining cells in column C.
Verify the calculated running totals in column C to ensure accuracy. Each cell should reflect the cumulative sales up to that date.
Adjust the dataset in column B or modify the formula in column C as needed. The spreadsheet will automatically update the running totals based on your changes. Experimenting with different datasets or formulas can help deepen your understanding.
We hope that you now have a better understanding of how to use the Google Sheets recursive formula. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our article on how to shorten links in Google Sheets.
