SUM Formula
The SUM function is one of Excel's most fundamental and widely-used functions. It adds numbers together and can handle individual numbers, cell references, ranges, or any combination of these elements.
How It Works
SUM accepts multiple arguments and adds them all together. You can include individual cell references, ranges of cells, or even constant numbers directly in the formula. Excel automatically ignores text values and empty cells when calculating the sum.
📊 Basic Range
Adds all values from cell A1 through A5
🔢 Direct Numbers
Adds the constant numbers 10, 20, and 30
🔄 Multiple Ranges
Combines ranges A1:A3 and B1:B3 in a single sum
🎯 Mixed Arguments
Combines cell A1, range B2:B5, and the number 100
Parameters Explained
• number1: The first number, cell reference, or range to add (required)
• [number2]: Optional additional numbers, cell references, or ranges
• You can include up to 255 arguments in a single SUM formula
🎯 Practice Tasks
- Basic Sum: Use
=SUM(A1:A5)to add a simple range - Multiple Ranges: Try
=SUM(A1:A3, C1:C3)to combine different ranges - Mixed Formula: Experiment with
=SUM(A1, B2:B4, 50)for various argument types - Real-world Application: Calculate totals for sales, expenses, or inventory data
Pro Tip: You can open the file in Excel Online by clicking the Excel icon in the embedded sheet. This will give you full editing capabilities to practice the formula!
Next Steps
Once you've mastered the SUM formula, try exploring Count Formula for more complex logical tests. Check out the Logic Functions section in the sidebar for advanced techniques!