Are you ready to take your Excel game to the next level? Adding in Excel is a basic function that really opens up a world of possibilities in your spreadsheets. In this beginner's guide, I'll show you some easy formulas and functions to get you started.
First things first, let's cover the basics. Adding in Excel means using the plus sign (+) in a formula to add numbers together. For example, if you wanted to add the numbers 5 and 10 together, you would enter the following formula in a cell:
=5+10
This would return the answer 15 in that cell. Easy, right?
But what if you want to add more than two numbers together? You could keep using the plus sign, but that would get tedious with a lot of numbers. Instead, you can use the SUM function. The SUM function adds up a range of cells.
To use the SUM function, select the cell where you want the answer to appear and type in the following formula:
=SUM(cell1:cell2)
Replace cell1 and cell2 with the cells you want to add together. For example, if you wanted to add the numbers in cells A1 to A10 together, you would type:
=SUM(A1:A10)
The SUM function can also be used to add non-contiguous cells together. Simply separate the cell ranges with a comma. For example:
=SUM(A1:A5, C1:C5)
What if you want to add some numbers together and subtract others? You can do that in the same formula by using both the plus sign and the minus sign (-). For example, if you wanted to add the numbers in cells A1 to A4 and subtract the number in cell B1, you would type:
=SUM(A1:A4)-B1
Adding percentages is slightly different than adding regular numbers. If you wanted to add 10% to a number, you would multiply that number by 1.1. For example, if you wanted to add 10% to the number in cell A1, you would type:
=A1*1.1
If you wanted to subtract 10% from a number, you would multiply that number by 0.9:
=A1*0.9
If you have a lot of numbers to add together, you can use Excel's AutoSum feature to save time. AutoSum automatically finds the range of cells with numbers in them and adds them up for you.
To use AutoSum, select the cell where you want the answer to appear and click on the AutoSum button in the Home tab of the Excel ribbon (it looks like the Greek letter sigma). Excel will automatically select a range of cells it thinks you want to add together. If Excel got it right, you can hit enter to apply the formula. If not, you can click and drag to adjust the selected range.
Adding in Excel is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what you can do with Excel formulas and functions. With a little practice, you can automate all sorts of calculations and make your spreadsheets more powerful than you ever thought possible.
So don't be afraid to experiment and try new things. And always remember: if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. (And if that doesn't work, Google it.) Happy adding!
