The SUM Function
Part of the Fundamentals section of Coddy's Excel journey — lesson 23 of 42.
SUM adds up every number in a range. Give it the range in parentheses and it does the rest:
=SUM(B2:B6)That means: add whatever numbers live in B2, B3, B4, B5 and B6. If any of those values change, the total recalculates instantly, no retyping.
A classic layout is a column of numbers with a Total row underneath. The label goes in one column, the SUM formula next to it, pointed at the data above it:
A7: Total
B7: =SUM(B2:B6)One caution: make sure your range covers exactly the data rows. =SUM(B2:B7) placed in B7 would ask the cell to include itself, Excel calls that a circular reference and refuses to play. Stop the range one row above the total.
Challenge
BeginnerThe sheet tracks snack-stand sales for one week: days in column A, amounts in B2:B6.
The label Total is already waiting in A7. In B7, write a SUM formula that totals the week's sales.
Your formula will be tested with different sales numbers, so it must use the range, not the values.
Try it yourself
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Day | Sales | |||||
| 2 | Mon | 120 | |||||
| 3 | Tue | 80 | |||||
| 4 | Wed | 95 | |||||
| 5 | Thu | 130 | |||||
| 6 | Fri | 75 | |||||
| 7 | Total | ||||||
| 8 | |||||||
| 9 | |||||||
| 10 | |||||||
| 11 | |||||||
| 12 | |||||||
| 13 | |||||||
| 14 |
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Fundamentals
1Meet the Spreadsheet
What Is a Spreadsheet?Cells and ReferencesYour First CellsRows, Columns and the GridRecap: Meet the Grid