Adding a column of numbers using the S button

Adding numbers

There are a couple of easy ways of adding up a column of numbers. To

access some suitable data,

• Click on the worksheet tab Sneezes.

You will see a table with the heading Sneeze count for Monday. The totals are to be filled in as described below. 

Adding a column of numbers using the S button

 

Try using the AutoSum (E) button to add up a column of numbers:

• Highlight the cells from C7 to C13 inclusive. (Note that Excel displays the message Sum=128 on the status bar.)

• Click on the AutoSum (S) button on the toolbar.

• Click away from the selected area. 

The answer 128 is displayed in C13; the formula in that cell is actually =SUM(C7:C12).

• Click in C13 to see that formula.

SUM is one of the built-in functions in Excel, probably the one most often used. 

If you are sure that there is no ambiguity as to which cells are to be included in the calculation, you can simply select the cell below the numbers that are to be used and click the AutoSum button.

Note:  Clicking on the arrow next to the AutoSum button gives quick access to the functions Average, Count, Max and Min, and to all the built- in functions (select More Functions).