Add math column

Step configurations

1. Drag Add math column onto your canvas.
2. Under 'New Column Name', type the name of your new column.
3. In the 'Calculation' field, enter your math formula. Wrap column names in curly braces— for example:
   
   1. {Inventory} + {In transit} → sums two columns
   2. {Total Goods Sold} * 52 → creates a 'Yearly Forecast' column
4. You can add multiple formulas by clicking 'Add Math Rule'.
5. Click 'Show Updated Results' to apply your formulas. Your new columns will calculate row by row and will appear to the very right of your data set.

As you type, column names will autocomplete—helpful when working with large datasets.

If you see a 'Settings error', check for typos or incorrect notation in the 'Calculation' field.

Helpful tips

• To reuse a column you created here, connect another Add math column step after it.
• Handles positive/negative numbers, currency symbols, percentages, decimals, and commas automatically.
• If your numbers are in accounting format, first use the Format numbers step to update them.
• Supported operators are:
  
  • Addition (+)
  • Subtraction (-)
  • Multiplication (*)
  • Division (/)
  • Modulo (%)
  • Power (^)
    

⚠️ Reminder: This step is optimized for math operators only. Advanced Excel formulas, date/time functions, and logic functions are not supported. Use other steps—or a combination of steps—in Parabola to accomplish those workflows.

Using functions

This step supports a set of functions that are applied row-by-row. Merge in column values by wrapping column names in curly braces (i.e. {revenue})

• abs(x) — Returns the absolute value of x.
  Example: abs(-5) → 5
• round(x, [n]) — Rounds x to the nearest integer (whole number), or to n decimals if provided.
  Example: round(3.1415, 2) → 3.14
• floor(x, [n]) — Rounds x down to the nearest integer (whole number), or to n decimals if provided.
  Example: floor(3.67) → 3
• ceil(x, [n]) — Rounds x up to the nearest integer (whole number), or to n decimals if provided.
  Example: ceil(3.14) → 4
• min(...values) — Returns the smallest of the provided values.
  Example: min(3, 1, 4) → 1
• max(...values) — Returns the largest of the provided values.
  Example: max(3, 1, 4) → 4
• mean(...values) — Returns the average of the provided values.
  Example: mean(2, 4, 6) → 4
• median(...values) — Returns the middle value of the provided values.
  Example: median([1, 3, 5]) → 3
• std(...values, [normalization]) — Returns the standard deviation of the provided values. Read more here
  Example: std([2, 4, 6]) → 2
• sqrt(x) — Returns the square root of x.
  Example: sqrt(9) → 3
• log(x, [base]) — Returns the logarithm of x, using base if provided (defaults to natural log).
  Example: log(100, 10) → 2
• exp(x) — Returns e raised to the power of x.
  Example: exp(2) → 7.389

Doing math conditionally

In Excel or Google Sheets, you might write a formula that uses if/else logic to decide which math to run.

In Parabola, use the Add if/else column step to apply conditions and perform math in the same place. For example, you could:

• Multiply {Price} by {Quantity} only if {Quantity} is greater than 1.
• Apply a discount rate if {Customer Type} equals “Wholesale.”
• Set a value to 0 if the field is blank.

This step combines conditional logic and math, so you don’t need to chain multiple steps together.

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⚠️ If you’re performing math operations, click the gear icon in the value field and check the box labeled ‘Accepts math function’.

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