Finding where a formula gets its data

If a formula is retrieving data from the wrong cells, it's never going to calculate the right result. By tracing a formula, you can see all the cells that a formula uses to retrieve data.

Any cell that supplies data to a formula is a precedent.

To trace a formula, follow these steps:

1. Click a cell that contains the formula you want to check.
2. Click the Formulas tab.
3. Click the Trace Precedents icon in the Formula Auditing group. Excel draws arrows that show you all the cells that feed data into the formula you chose in Step 1.
4. Click the Remove Arrows button to make the auditing arrows go away.