Excel argument I'm trying to write an argument to calulate hours worked * wages and to calulate OT if applicable. Here is my formula: wages*40 if hours worked>40,-40, and here is where i need help. I want excel to calulate the difference and add the two sums together to get wages earned. I try to use the IF argument and the array argument. I am stuck please help!

A bit late but a solution for those who have a similar problem. Could also be the first step in understanding how to use Functions!

Create an input cell (cell a for the demonstration) and an output cell (cell b for the demonstration). These cells will have actual references like A11 or C23 etc.

Enter the total hours worked (eg 54).

Create some data manipulation cells out to the right where you can later Hide the Columns (for neatness) (cells c and d for the demonstration).

In the output cell (cell b) write =if("cell a"<=40,cell c,cell d).

In "cell c" write =cell a*Standard Rate (where cell a is the hours input cell reference and Standard Rate is the hourly rate without Overtime).

In cell d write =sum(40*Standard Rate)+sum((cell a-40)*Overtime Rate))

Note: Standard Rate and Overtime Rate can be separate input cells (where you can enter the Hourly rates for standard and overtime hours) to make future calculations easier when these rates change. Note: In the formula you will use cell references to these input cells rather than the dollar amount.

This will give you a total of dollars earned for any hours input.

You could split the standard and overtime dollars up into 2 cells to get a breakdown of costs if you required and then combine these to get the total (as above).

The trick here is NOT to attempt a single complex formula to do the calculation.

Use as many steps as you need to keep it simple in your mind (eg 2+3=5 is much easier to understand than ((((7*6)+2)/(8118/369)+(125/(5*5))=5. Each of the steps in this complex calculation can be broken down into simple Arithmetic formulas (eg (5*5) represents 5x5=25) and then the result can be used in another simple calculation as a cell reference and then that result can be used in a simple calculation as a cell reference and so on. I use cells out to the right of the workspace so that I can Hide the Columns for neatness and easy retrieval for later amendments.

Hope this helps someone.

If I understand correctly, you want to figure the normal wages at 40 hours and less. If there is more then 40 hours, calculate the normal 40 hours, then calculate the hours overtime (time and a half) and add them to get a total.



B5 columns are filled with this:
=IF(A5>$B$1,($B$2*$B$1)+((A5-$B$1)*($B$3)),A5*$B$2)

NOTE: The $ sign doesn't refer to money, it refers to an absolute reference so when copying a formula, the cell references with a $ sign are fixed and don't adjust according to the relative position to where it's being pasted.

Please rate as FixYa! or ask please clarify. ThankYa!

Download an excel template from here.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/results.aspx?qu=+write+an+argument+to+calulate+hours+worked+