repeating functions

So, say A1 is the number of arrests in 1990, A2 is number of arrests in 1991,
A3 the number of arrests in 1992, etc, all the way to A10. In the adjacent
column B, I would like to calculate the percentage increase or decrease in
arrests for each year compared to that of 1990, and not to that of the
preceding year. So in B5, for example, I would put the formula "=(A5-A1)/A1"
and etc.

The Question: How can I put this formula in once and then have it
automatically calculate the percentage change for the all the other years as
compared only to 1990?

I have many, many catagories and many percent changes to compare -- manually
entering each one is not a very good option...

Thanks.

Use dollar signs, so, for example, put this formula in B2 and drag down:

=(A2-$A$1)/$A$1


--
Regards,
Dave


"firelake" wrote:

> So, say A1 is the number of arrests in 1990, A2 is number of arrests in 1991,
> A3 the number of arrests in 1992, etc, all the way to A10. In the adjacent
> column B, I would like to calculate the percentage increase or decrease in
> arrests for each year compared to that of 1990, and not to that of the
> preceding year. So in B5, for example, I would put the formula "=(A5-A1)/A1"
> and etc.
>
> The Question: How can I put this formula in once and then have it
> automatically calculate the percentage change for the all the other years as
> compared only to 1990?
>
> I have many, many catagories and many percent changes to compare -- manually
> entering each one is not a very good option...
>
> Thanks.

=(A5-$A$1)/$A$1

Using the $ creates an "absolute reference" to the cell. $A means absolute
to column A, $1 means absolute to row 1. When you copy down, the $A$1 will
stay "static".
************
Anne Troy
www.OfficeArticles.com

"firelake" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> So, say A1 is the number of arrests in 1990, A2 is number of arrests in
> 1991,
> A3 the number of arrests in 1992, etc, all the way to A10. In the
> adjacent
> column B, I would like to calculate the percentage increase or decrease in
> arrests for each year compared to that of 1990, and not to that of the
> preceding year. So in B5, for example, I would put the formula
> "=(A5-A1)/A1"
> and etc.
>
> The Question: How can I put this formula in once and then have it
> automatically calculate the percentage change for the all the other years
> as
> compared only to 1990?
>
> I have many, many catagories and many percent changes to compare --
> manually
> entering each one is not a very good option...
>
> Thanks.