5! = 5x4x3x2x1 = 120

 

The FACT() function in excel calculates and returns the factorial of an argument. e.g. FACT(5) = 120

Using the Factorial Function: Click on the relevant cell. Type " =FACT( ". Enter the numerical argument. Type " ) " then press the "Enter" key.
Using the Factorial Function: Click on the relevant cell. Type " =FACT( ". Enter the coordinate of the data cell as the argument "B3". Type " ) " then press the "Enter" key. Note: The Ripple effect and auto update.
When a function is entered into the worksheet using a cell as a refence for a data value the function uses the data in the cell as its argument. One of the most usefull things about Excel is its ability to update function and equations automatically when an argument is changed. In this example the value in the referenced cell (B3) is changed and Excel automatically returns a new result in the cell ontainting the functiuon (C3). This is an exampe of the auto-update or "ripple effect".
A table of values from cell references: Click on the relevant cell. Type " =FACT( ". Enter the coordinate of the data cell. Type " ) " then press the "Enter" key. Drag the fill handle to fill the column. Note: The intelligent autofill.

Another great tool in Excel is the autofill. The autofill tool allows you to select a cell containing values, equations or functions and fill a series of cells with the contents. The difference btween autofill and copy and paste is that the contents is not nesseserily copied into each cell. Instread the contents are inteligently filled in.

In the eaxmple above the factorial function is auto filled into cells C2 to C4. The function in each cell is slighlty modified to ensure that each argument in the function is assigned to the corrosponding cell. So instead of having "=FACT(B2)" in each cell the autofill tool inteligently modified the function so that "=FACT(B3)" and "=FACT(B4)" are entered into cells C2:C4.

This is an example of relative referencing to learn more see [The relative referencing knowledgebase]