Apple Numbers '08 - Manual (Page 193)

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Dictionary of Functions
This chapter describes functions you can use in cell formulas.
This chapter describes each of the functions you can use in a table cell formula. For
information about using functions in table cell formulas, see “Using Formulas” on
page 83 and “Using Functions” on page 96.
About Functions
A function is a named operation that you can include in a formula to perform a
calculation or to manipulate data in a table cell.
Numbers provides 168 functions that do things such as perform common
mathematical or financial operations, retrieve cell values based on a search, manipulate
strings of text, or get the current date and time. Each function has a name followed by
one or more arguments enclosed in parentheses. You use arguments to provide the
values that the function needs to perform its work.
For example, the following formula contains a function named SUM with a single
argument (a range of cells) that adds the values in column A, rows 2 through 10:
=SUM(A2:A10)
The number and types of arguments vary for different functions. Possible arguments
include:
 Constants, such as a number, a text string, or Boolean TRUE or FALSE—for example,
CONCATENATE(“cat”, “s”)
 A calculation, including a Boolean value—for example, OR(4<1, 5<6)
 The address of a table cell or a range of cells—for example, LOOKUP(5, C2:C6, D2:D6)
 Another function—for example, WEEKDAY(TODAY()).
Note: Character strings are ignored in functions that use values to perform calculations.