SUM Function

An Excel Mathematics and Trigonometry function that is used, to sum up the cells consideration that meet the criteria.

Author: Jake Heimowitz
Jake Heimowitz
Jake Heimowitz
IU Kelley School of Business Class of '25. I worked for Wall Street Oasis the summer following my freshman year of college at IU which undoubtedly broadened my understanding of financial research. I've since interned with Oppenheimer & Co as an Equity Research Summer Analyst and am excited to continue my career within finance.
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Reviewed By: James Fazeli-Sinaki
James Fazeli-Sinaki
James Fazeli-Sinaki
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Last Updated:May 15, 2024
In This Article

What is the SUM Function?

The SUM function is an Excel Mathematics and Trigonometry function that is used to sum up the cells in consideration that meet the criteria.

The SUM function quick and easy way to add a range of cells. Simply type “=SUM(“ into the cell where you want the result to appear, and then select the cells you want to add. Excel will automatically add the cells and show the sum once you hit Enter.

One thing to remember is that the SUM function only works on numbers. So, if you have a range of cells that contains both numbers and text, only the numbers will be added.

If you want to add up a range of cells that contains both numbers and text, you can use the SUMIF function. The SUMIF function lets you specify a range of cells to add, ensuring only the cells that meet certain criteria will be added.

You can also use the SUM function to add up multiple ranges of cells. To do this, simply select the first range of cells, type a comma, then select the second range of cells. The function will automatically calculate the sum of both ranges.

Key Takeaways

  • The SUM function is an Excel Mathematical and Trigonometry function that is used to sum the observation in cells.
  • The SUM function adds up a range of numbers or cells and returns the sum of all the numbers in the specified range.
  • The syntax for the SUM function typically includes one or more arguments representing the numbers or cells to be added. It returns the total sum of these numbers.
  • The SUM function may return an error if any of the cells in the specified range contain error values (e.g., #VALUE!, #DIV/0!, etc.). In such cases, it may return an error value indicating the nature of the problem.

Syntax of SUM Function

The Excel SUM function is a quick and easy way to add up a range of cells. Simply type “=SUM(“ and then select the cells you want to add.

The SUM function in Excel is used to add up a range of cells. The syntax is as follows:

=SUM(beginning_cell:ending_cell)

For example, if you wanted to sum cells A1 through A5, you would use the following syntax:

SUM(A1:A5)

15

You can also use the SUM function on a column or row of cells. For example, to sum cells A1 through C1, you would use the following syntax:

SUM(A1:C1)

6

The SUM function accepts up to 255 arguments. These arguments include numbers, cell references, ranges, arrays, or constants.

The function will return the sum of all the arguments. If any of the arguments are error values, the SUM function will return the #VALUE! Error.

The SUM function is a handy way to quickly add up a range of cells in Excel. Give it a try the next time you need to sum up a column or row of cells!

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