The values you enter into the SUM formula can either be actual numbers or equal to the number in a specific cell of your spreadsheet. To perform the SUM formula, enter the values you'd like to add together using the format, =SUM(value 1, value 2, etc). The SUM formula in Excel is one of the most basic formulas you can enter into a spreadsheet, allowing you to find the sum (or total) of two or more values. SUMĪll Excel formulas begin with the equals sign, =, followed by a specific text tag denoting the formula you'd like Excel to perform. If you're using a slightly older version of Excel, the location of each feature mentioned below might be slightly different. NOTE: The following formulas apply to the latest version of Excel. To help you use Excel more effectively (and save a ton of time), we've compiled a list of essential formulas, keyboard shortcuts, and other small tricks and functions you should know. Now, let's do a deeper dive into some of the most crucial Excel formulas and how to perform each one in typical situations. Once you've found the formula that suits your needs, click 'Insert Function,' as shown in the window above. Want a more sorted browsing experience? Use any of the icons we've highlighted (inside the long red rectangle in the first screenshot above) to find formulas related to a variety of common subjects - such as finance, logic, and more. That browsing window will look like this: Nonetheless, the suite of icons above is a handy catalog of formulas you can browse and refer back to as you hone your spreadsheet skills.Įxcel formulas are also called 'functions.' To insert one into your spreadsheet, highlight a cell in which you want to run a formula, then click the far-left icon, 'Insert Function,' to browse popular formulas and what they do.

The more you use various formulas in Excel, the easier it'll be to remember them and perform them manually. In more recent versions of Excel, this horizontal menu - shown below - allows you to find and insert Excel formulas into specific cells of your spreadsheet. You might wonder what the 'Formulas' tab on the top navigation toolbar in Excel means.

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