How to Calculate Factorial in Excel? Along with 2 Easy Examples
(Note: This guide on how to calculate factorial in Excel is suitable for all Excel versions including Office 365)
We all might have learned about the concept of factorials in our high school math. As we grew up, we understood the concept of factorial has various uses while operating on probability, permutations, and combinations.
We also know Excel can perform various mathematical calculations and complex functions. Likewise, if you want to find the factorial of a value you won’t need a pen and paper, Excel has a function to help you find the factorial of a number easily.
In this article, I will show you what is factorial in Excel and how to calculate factorial in Excel. Also, I will show you examples and additional cases when calculating factorial in excel.
You’ll Learn:
- Factorial in Mathematics
- Factorial in Excel
- Examples of using the FACT() function in Excel
- Other cases of using the FACT() in Excel
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Factorial in Mathematics
Factorial is defined as the product of all numbers less than or equal to the given number. In mathematics, it is represented with an exclamation mark.
For example, consider a number “n”. Mathematically, it is represented in its factorial form as “n!”. And, the formula for factorial for the number n is n x (n-1)!. Replace n with any whole number to find the factorial of the said number.
Consider an example, where you want to calculate the factorial of the number 5. By applying the formula: n x (n-1)! And replacing the value of n with 5, we get the value equal to 120. That is, the value of 5! is the product of numbers less than or equal to 5 till it reaches 1.
5! = (5x4x3x2x1) = 120
Factorial in Excel
Factorial is an in-built function in Excel and is categorized under Math/Trig functions. The functionality of the factorial function in Excel is similar to the mathematical operation. However, you cannot express factorial function in Excel as you do in mathematical terms.
Entering the value =5! will throw an error as it is not the right syntax for the operation.
In Excel, the syntax to calculate the factorial value for a given number is =FACT(n). Where n is a whole number. This function takes only one argument. Using the function is the same as using the other Excel mathematical functions. You can either enter the function in the cell or in the formula bar.
Consider an example where you have to calculate the factorial of number 6. Enter the function =FACT(6) in the destination cell or formula bar. Press Enter. This returns the value of 720.
You can also use the function by passing the argument as variables instead of constants. Consider an example in which cell A3 has the value of 4. To find the factorial value of the number in cell A3, enter the formula =FACT(A3) in the destination cell or the formula bar.
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Examples of using the FACT() function in Excel
Consider an example, where you have to arrange 5 students in a linear fashion. To arrange the students there are no criteria given. Without any criteria, there are a number of ways to arrange them.
It would’ve been easy if you were asked to arrange them in alphabetical order or based on their heights. But without any criteria, the number of ways the students can be arranged is found using the factorial method.
Since there are 5 students, enter the value =FACT(5) in the formula bar or in any cell. And press Enter. This gives the value of the number of ways the students can be arranged.
Consider another example where you have to find the number of words that can be formed from the word “EXCEL”.
In this case, the word has two “E”s. To arrive at how many words can be formed from the word “EXCEL” divide the total number of letters by the number of occurrences of the same letter.
Therefore, the number of words that can be formed from the word “EXCEL” is given by the expression =FACT(5)/FACT(2). This function returns the value 60, denoting 60 words that can be formed from the EXCEL by rearranging the letters.
Other cases of using the FACT() in Excel
Factorial in Excel only accepts whole numbers as arguments. However, when the argument has other values than whole numbers or integers, Excel converts them and returns the value to any one of the following:
- When the argument is a negative whole number or a negative decimal value, Excel returns a #NUM! error signifying the argument should not be a negative value.
- When the argument is a decimal value, Excel rounds down the value to a whole number and then finds the factorial of the number.
- When the argument passed is zero. Excel returns the value 1.
- When the argument passed in one. Excel returns the value 1.
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Closing Thoughts
In this article, we saw what is factorial in Excel, how to calculate, and examples with special cases in Excel.
The factorial function is used to calculate or count different ways to arrange or order things. And more importantly, factorials are the basis of probability, permutations, and combinations. Excel simplifies the functionality when performing complex operations. Type in the function and arrive at your answer.
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Simon Calder
Chris “Simon” Calder was working as a Project Manager in IT for one of Los Angeles’ most prestigious cultural institutions, LACMA. He taught himself to use Microsoft Project from a giant textbook and hated every moment of it. Online learning was in its infancy then, but he spotted an opportunity and made an online MS Project course - the rest, as they say, is history!