When it comes to managing data, Google Sheets is an incredibly powerful tool that can help you organize, analyze, and visualize your information with ease. One of the most common tasks that people perform in Google Sheets is calculating dates, including calculating age from a date of birth. But can Google Sheets really calculate age from a date of birth? The answer is yes, and in this article, we’ll explore how to do it.
Why Calculating Age is Important
Calculating age is an essential task in many industries, including healthcare, finance, and education. For instance, in healthcare, calculating age is crucial for determining patient eligibility for certain treatments or medications. In finance, calculating age is important for determining investment returns or calculating retirement benefits. In education, calculating age is important for determining student eligibility for certain programs or scholarships.
Google Sheets provides a range of functions and formulas that can help you calculate age from a date of birth. With the right formula, you can easily calculate the age of a person, including the number of years, months, and days.
Calculating Age in Google Sheets
To calculate age in Google Sheets, you’ll need to use the DATEDIF function, which is a built-in function that calculates the difference between two dates. The syntax for the DATEDIF function is as follows:
| Function | Argument 1 | Argument 2 | Argument 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DATEDIF | Date of birth | Date of calculation | Unit of time (e.g. years, months, days) |
For example, if you want to calculate the age of a person born on January 1, 1990, and the current date is March 15, 2023, you can use the following formula:
`=DATEDIF(A1,B1,”y”)`
Where A1 contains the date of birth (January 1, 1990) and B1 contains the current date (March 15, 2023). The “y” argument specifies that you want to calculate the age in years.
Calculating Age in Years, Months, and Days
While the DATEDIF function can calculate age in years, you may also want to calculate age in months and days. To do this, you can use the following formulas: (See Also: How to See History of Google Sheets? Uncover Edits Easily)
`=DATEDIF(A1,B1,”ym”)`
`=DATEDIF(A1,B1,”yd”)`
The “ym” argument calculates the age in years and months, while the “yd” argument calculates the age in years and days.
Using the AGE Function
Another way to calculate age in Google Sheets is to use the AGE function, which is a built-in function that calculates the age of a person based on their date of birth and the current date. The syntax for the AGE function is as follows:
`=AGE(A1)`
Where A1 contains the date of birth. The AGE function returns the age of the person in years.
Calculating Age with the AGE Function
You can also use the AGE function to calculate age in months and days. To do this, you can use the following formulas: (See Also: How to Change Google Sheets to Dark Mode? Easily Now)
`=AGE(A1,”m”)`
`=AGE(A1,”d”)`
The “m” argument calculates the age in months, while the “d” argument calculates the age in days.
Conclusion
Calculating age from a date of birth is an essential task in many industries, and Google Sheets provides a range of functions and formulas that can help you do it. In this article, we’ve explored how to calculate age using the DATEDIF function and the AGE function. Whether you need to calculate age in years, months, or days, Google Sheets has a formula that can help you do it.
Recap
Here’s a recap of what we’ve covered in this article:
- We explored why calculating age is important in many industries.
- We learned how to calculate age using the DATEDIF function.
- We learned how to calculate age using the AGE function.
- We explored how to calculate age in years, months, and days using the DATEDIF function and the AGE function.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DATEDIF function?
The DATEDIF function is a built-in function in Google Sheets that calculates the difference between two dates. It can be used to calculate age, as well as other date-based calculations.
How do I calculate age in Google Sheets?
To calculate age in Google Sheets, you can use the DATEDIF function or the AGE function. The DATEDIF function requires two arguments: the date of birth and the current date. The AGE function requires only one argument: the date of birth.
Can I calculate age in months and days using the DATEDIF function?
Yes, you can calculate age in months and days using the DATEDIF function. To do this, you can use the “ym” or “yd” argument, which calculates the age in years and months or years and days, respectively.
Can I calculate age in months and days using the AGE function?
Yes, you can calculate age in months and days using the AGE function. To do this, you can use the “m” or “d” argument, which calculates the age in months or days, respectively.
What is the difference between the DATEDIF function and the AGE function?
The DATEDIF function calculates the difference between two dates, while the AGE function calculates the age of a person based on their date of birth and the current date. The DATEDIF function is more flexible and can be used to calculate a range of date-based calculations, while the AGE function is more specific and is designed specifically for calculating age.