SUM Function in Excel

SUM in Excel (Table of Contents)

• SUM Function in Excel
• How to Use SUM in Excel?

SUM Function in Excel

The sum function is another mathematical function used to sum up the selected numbers, whether they are decimals or whole numbers. We can either select the cells containing numbers one by one or directly select the complete range of cells whose sum we need to find.

SUM Formula in Excel:

The Formula for the SUM function is as follows:

WHERE ‘num1’, ‘num2’ and ‘num_n’ denotes numeric values or numbers which you wish to add

It can accept up to 255 numbers or individual arguments in a single formula

How to Use the SUM Function in Excel?

This SUM is very simple easy to use. Let us now see how to use the SUM function with the help of some examples.

Example #1

Here, Using the SUM Function will find out the total sales for the four-quarter, i.e. yearly total sales. In the excel sheet, go to the ‘Math & Trig’ option under the Formulas Section in the Menu Bar; a drop-down menu will open up; in that, select SUM, fill up the argument for an output.

Column C contains quarterly sales values; here, we have to simply specify the first and last cell in a range of cells to be added up. Here sum function adds up all the cells from C6 to C9. In the C10 cell, the SUM formula is used, i.e. =SUM (C6:C9); we need to select a range from C6 TO C9 to get total sales data.

It returns the total quarterly sales value as 3398

Example #2

In this example, an Excel sheet with the cell references ‘B15’ and ‘B16’ contains the value ‘3’. SUM formula is applied in cell “C15”, i.e. =SUM(B15, B16); here, We have to select the cells that contain the values we want to add together. In the argument, the cell references ‘B15’ and ‘B16’ needs to added & is separated by a comma.

The SUM function returns the value 6

Example #3

In this example, an Excel sheet with the cell references ‘B21’, ‘B22’ and ‘B23’ contains the decimal values. SUM formula is applied in cell “C21”, i.e. =SUM(B21, B22, B23); here, We have to select the cells that contain the decimal values we want to add together. In the argument, cell references ‘B21’, ‘B22’ and ‘B23’ needs to added & is separated by a comma.

The SUM function returns the value 17.2

Example #4

In this example, I want to apply the sum function for fraction values “6/2” & “4/2”. SUM formula is applied in cell “F6”, i.e. =SUM(6/2,4/2).

In the argument, fraction values “6/2” & “4/2” need to add & is separated by a comma.

The SUM function returns the value 5

Example #5

In the earlier examples of the SUM Function, we have only added up to one range at a time. The below-mentioned example will add up several or multiple ranges of cells at once. All the cells in all the ranges are added together to give a grand total. In the excel sheet, company quarterly sales data is present in each column. There are four quarters sales data.

Here, we need to find out the total sales from four-quarter sales data. We have to simply specify the first and last cell in a range of cells to be added up for each quarter or column. In the SUM formula, we need to specify four separate ranges in the argument & is separated by a comma i.e.

=SUM(F11:F15,G11:G15,H11:H15,I11:I15)

Where F11:F15 range represent first-quarter sales data

G11:G15 range represent second-quarter sales data

H11:H15 range represent third-quarter sales data

I11:I15 range represent fourth-quarter sales data

The SUM function returns the value or total sales data, i.e. 12393

Example #6

Numbers in a range of cells can be quickly added by using AUTOSUM Option in Excel.

The keyboard shortcut for AUTOSUM: Alt + =

In a range of cells, it contains sales data between cells F20 to F24; I need to apply an auto sum function for that range.

In a cell “F25”, click “Alt + =” Excel SUM formula will be appearing in the active cell along with cell reference. Then we need to press the Enter key to complete the SUM function.

Things to Remember

• Sum Function can also do the addition of fractions & decimal numbers
• In the SUM formula, i.e. =SUM( num1, num2, … num_n ) and in place of ‘num’, if it contains or you have entered a non-numeric content, then the Sum function will return an #Name? error, whereas or in case if SUM formula is applied for a range, Sum function will ignore this value
• If in a range of cells, one or more of the cells are blank or empty, or it contains text rather than a number, Excel ignores those values when calculating the result.
• In the SUM Function, Mathematical operators like (+,-, / and *) can also be used.
• Suppose, if, in a range of cells, values that cannot be interpreted as numbers, (e.g. Text Representations of numbers & Dates, logical values) are ignored by the SUM function.

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