Google Spreadsheet formula, MINUS?

Question

I have a spreadsheet with 3 columns:

| ITEM | COST | SUBTOTAL |

Subtotal, for example, is 1000 to start, like:

--------------------------
| ITEM | COST | SUBTOTAL |
--------------------------
|      |      | 1000     |

Then I want to be able to add an item like:

--------------------------
| ITEM | COST | SUBTOTAL |
--------------------------
|      |      | 1000     |
| item | 50   |          |

I want subtotal to update now.

I know I can do:

MINUS(B3,C2)

But I want it to be dynamic like:

MINUS(BX,CX)

Where BX is this B and CX is this C -1 row (the row above the current one to subtract one)

How an I do this with GDocs?

Answer 1

Simply copy your formula from that cell to each cell below. Copying formulas with relative references (those without $) adjusts them automatically.

I think you have your coordinates backwards, though. Cell C2 contains "1000" and cell B3 contains "50", so your formula in C3 should be =MINUS(C2,B3) (or =C2-B3).