Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn how to add numbers and use the SUM function in Excel.
This video illustrates the lesson material below. Watching the video is optional.
Addition Using Excel
You can use Excel as a calculator to add numbers by clicking on any cell and typing the equal symbol (=) and then the numbers you want to add together separated by a plus symbol (+).
Example 1
\(9+7\)
- In any cell, type \(=9+7\).
Figure 1
- Press Enter to calculate the equation. The number 16 will appear in the cell because \(9+7=16\).
Figure 2
Notice that the equation in the formula bar for the cell still says \(=9+7\).
Similar to using a calculator, this approach allows you to add as many numbers together as you want.
Adding by Referencing Cells in the SUM Function
Another way to add numbers in Excel is to use the SUM function. To do so, type =SUM() into a cell. The cell references of the cells you want to add go within the parentheses.
The AutoSUM button (\(\boldsymbol{\sum}\)), which looks like the Greek letter sigma, will automatically put the SUM function into a cell.
There are several ways to reference cells within the SUM function, as explained below.
Comma Separated Values
This is used to add the values of specific cells together. The cell references are separated by commas within the function. These cells don’t have to be next to each other in the spreadsheet.
Example 2
Add the values of cells A2 and A3 together.
- Cell A2 has the value 9 in it.
- Cell A3 has the value 7 in it.
- In another cell (A4, in this case), type =SUM(A2,A3).
Figure 3
- Press Enter to calculate the equation. The value 16 will appear in the cell with the SUM function. In the formula bar you will still see the formula =SUM(A2,A3). If the numbers in cells A2 or A3 change, the value of the SUM function will change too.
Colon Separated Values
Excel can add all the values in a vertical or horizontal group of cells using the SUM function.
To add the cells in a group, start with =SUM(). With the cursor inside the parentheses of the SUM function, select the first cell and drag the cursor to the last cell in the group. This will automatically put the reference name of the first cell and the reference name of the last cell in the group, separated by a colon.
Figure 4
Press Enter to calculate the equation.
Figure 4 above adds the values in cells A1 through A7 and sums them in cell A8.
The same technique works to sum a row horizontally, as shown in Figure 5 below.
Figure 5
Quickly See the SUM in Bottom of the Window
You can see the sum of several cells without actually adding them together by highlighting the cells and looking in the bottom of the Excel window.
Figure 6
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