Mastering the DATE Function in Excel

This video introduces Excel's DATE function, demonstrating how to convert separated month, day, and year inputs into a recognizable date format. The tutorial explains each argument within the DATE function and shows how to confirm that Excel understands the output as a date. Additionally, the video covers the fascinating aspect of performing arithmetic operations on dates, such as subtracting dates to determine the number of days between them.

What will you learn

• How to use Excel’s DATE function to create dates from component values.
• The proper format for inputting years, months, and days into the DATE function.
• How to confirm Excel's recognition of a cell as a date.
• How Excel perceives dates as serial numbers starting from January 1, 1900.
• Performing arithmetic operations with dates in Excel, including addition and subtraction.

Takeaway notes

• Excel’s DATE function syntax: =DATE(year, month, day).
• Separated month, day, and year numbers need to be formatted using the DATE function for Excel to recognize them as a valid date.
• Confirm Excel's date recognition by checking the cell format.
• Dates in Excel can be manipulated using arithmetic operations just like numbers.
• The number of days between two dates can be calculated by subtracting one date from another.

Practice questions

1. Create a date using the DATE function with the year 2024, month 5, and day 19.
2. Confirm if the cell formatted as a date changes its format automatically when you input =DATE(2020, 10, 13).
3. How would you convert the separategiven values 1995, 6, 23 into a recognizable date in Excel?
4. Subtract two dates =DATE(2022, 1, 1) - DATE(2021, 1, 1) and interpret the result.
5. Add 45 days to the date =DATE(2021, 7, 13) and provide the resulting date.
6. Calculate how many days are between =DATE(2023, 12, 25) and =DATE(2023, 1, 1).
7. Convert the following into a date: year in A1 as 2021, month in B1 as 7, day in C1 as 15.
8. Use the DATE function to find out what date it will be 100 days from =DATE(2023, 3, 5).
9. Explain why =DATE(1984, 12, 31) - DATE(1983, 12, 31) results in 366 days.
10. Confirm the format change by doing =DATE(2000, 2, 29) on a cell and checking if Excel recognizes it as a date.
11. Multiply the day part of the date =DATE(2019, 4, 15) by 3 and explain the context.
12. Write a formula to display the date in C2 if the year is in A2, the month in B2, and the day in D2.
13. Convert the date =DATE(2022, 9, 5) into its serial number format and explain its significance.
14. Use the DATE function to create a date from the values 1987, 11, 17 and then subtract 365 days; what date do you get?
15. Show how you would use the DATE function to display "December 25, 2025".