How to Add Sum in Excel

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool designed to perform various mathematical operations quickly and accurately. One of the most commonly used functions is the SUM function. It adds up a range of cells in a particular column or row and produces their sum. For individuals looking to learn how to add sum in Excel, this blog post will explain step-by-step how to use this function.

Select the cell where you want to display the sum

The first step to add sum in Excel is to select the cell where you want to display the result. The SUM function calculates the sum of selected cells and displays it in the cell you choose.

Insert the SUM function

Next, start by typing the equals (=) sign in the cell where you want to display the result. Once you have done that, type the SUM function – type ‘SUM(‘ in the cell (without quotes). It is important to start the function with the ‘SUM(‘ statement, as this is what tells Excel that you intend to add the selected cells.

Select the cells to sum

Select the cells you want to add together. You can click and select individual cells or drag your mouse to select a range of cells. When you have selected all the cells you want to sum, you will see their addresses in the formula.

Close the SUM function

Once you have selected all the cells to sum, complete the SUM function by closing the bracket – type ‘)’. It should look something like this: =SUM(A1:A10), where A1:A10 is the range of cells being summed.

Press enter to display the sum

Finally, press the Enter key to view the sum of the selected cells in the selected cell. The sum will appear in the cell where you have inserted the formula.

Using AutoSum

If you find it difficult to remember or perform these steps, you can always use the AutoSum feature. AutoSum is a quick and easy way to calculate the sum of a range of cells. Simply select the cell below the column or to the right of the row that you want to sum and click the AutoSum button.

Applying the SUM function to non-contiguous cells

If you need to apply the SUM function to non-contiguous cells, that is, cells that are not in a continuous range, you need to select the individual cells first. Hold down the ‘Ctrl’ key and click on each cell one at a time, to select them. Type the SUM formula and add commas between each cell reference. For example, to add the values in cells A1, C3, and D7, type “=SUM(A1,C3,D7)”.

Using the SUMIF function to add cells that meet specific criteria

The SUMIF function is used to add up a range of cells that meet specific criteria. The function has three arguments: range, criteria, and sum_range. The range argument is the range of cells to be evaluated, the criteria argument is the condition that cells must meet to be included, and the sum_range argument is the range of cells to be summed.

Using the quick SUM keyboard shortcut

You can quickly calculate the sum of a range of cells by selecting the first cell you want to sum, then holding down the ‘Shift’ key and selecting the last cell in the range. Once the range is selected, simply press ‘Alt’ and ‘=’ keys together, and the sum of the selected range will be calculated and displayed in the cell below the selected range.

Formatting the SUM function result

You can format the result of the SUM function to display in a specific way, such as currency, percentage, or decimal places. Select the cell with the SUM formula, right-click the mouse, and choose ‘Format Cells’. In the ‘Format Cells’ window, choose the formatting style you prefer. For example, to format the cells to display currency, select ‘Currency’ from the ‘Number’ tab. Once you are done, click ‘Ok’ to apply the formatting to the cell.

Knowing how to add sum in Excel is an essential and frequently-used skill to have when dealing with large amounts of data in spreadsheets. The SUM function is a useful tool that can help simplify and streamline your calculations. With the step-by-step guide provided above, you will be able to add up a range of cells quickly and easily.

FAQs Related to Adding Sum in Excel

Here are some frequently asked questions related to adding sum in Excel.

Can I add sum in Excel for different worksheets?

Yes, you can add sum in Excel for different worksheets. You can use a 3D reference to add the values across worksheets. For example, to add the values in cell A1 of sheet1, sheet2, and sheet3, type “=SUM(Sheet1:Sheet3!A1)” in another sheet’s cell.

Can I add up negative numbers using the SUM function?

Yes, the SUM function adds up negative numbers and positive numbers. However, make sure you enter negative numbers correctly. Negative numbers should be preceded by a minus sign (-) or surrounded by parentheses (). For example, type “=SUM(-5, 6, (-8))” to sum up negative and positive numbers.

What should I do if the SUM function is not working?

If the SUM function is not working, it is likely that there is an error in your formula or cell selection. Double-check the cell references, their ranges, and accuracy. If the problem persists, check that you have entered the formula correctly and make sure your syntax is correct.

How do I sum only the visible cells in a filtered Excel table?

To sum only the visible cells in a filtered Excel table, select that column, and click on ‘Data’ > ‘Filter’. Excel inserts a dropdown for each column. Click on the filter drop-down in the column, and select the values you want to sum. Then, type “=SUBTOTAL(“9″,C2:C12)” into the cell, where ‘9’ indicates the SUM function.

Do I have to use the SUM function to add up numbers in Excel?

No, you can use other functions like SUMIF and SUMIFS to add up cells that meet specific criteria. Furthermore, you can also apply addition manually by using the plus sign (+) between individual numeric values in separate cells but this can be time-consuming and prone to errors, especially when dealing with large datasets.