PRODUCT Function
Purpose
Multiplies all the numbers given as arguments and returns the product ($\prod x = x_1 \times x_2 \times \dots \times x_n$).
Syntax
EXCEL
=PRODUCT(number1, [number2], ...)
Arguments Breakdown
| Argument | Required? | Description |
|---|---|---|
number1 |
Required | The first number or range that you want to multiply. |
number2, ... |
Optional | Additional numbers or ranges to multiply (up to 255 arguments). |
Practical Examples
1. Simple Two-Cell Multiplication
From Formulas_&_Functions_Part_1.xlsx:
EXCEL
=PRODUCT(B3, A3)
2. Multi-Tier Discount Factor Compounding
Calculating cumulative retention rate across quarters:
EXCEL
=PRODUCT(1 - ChurnRates)
Why Use PRODUCT() Instead of Asterisk (*)?
=A1 * B1 * C1returns#VALUE!if any cell contains text (e.g."N/A"or blank spaces).=PRODUCT(A1:C1)ignores text and blank cells, preventing error cascades in financial and analytical models.
Related Knowledge
- Notes: 02 Statistical and Aggregation Functions
- Workbook:
11_Demos_and_Workbooks/03_Formulas_and_Functions/Formulas_&_Functions_Part_1.xlsx(Sheet:Arithmetic and statistical)