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Excel AutoSUM

Adding Numbers in Excel

By , About.com Guide

Excel AutoSUM Function

Excel AutoSUM Function

© Ted French

The AutoSum feature is a shortcut to using Excel's SUM function. It provides a quick way to add up columns or rows of numbers in a spreadsheet.

The syntax for AutoSum is the same as the SUM function.

=SUM( Number1, Number2, ... Number255 )

Up to 255 numbers can be entered into the function.

Example Using Excel's AutoSum Feature:

For help with this example, see the image above.

  1. Enter the following data into cells C1 to C6:
    11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
  2. Make sure that cell C7 - the location where the results will be displayed is blank.

  3. Drag select cells C1 to C6 in the spreadsheet.

  4. Click on the Home tab.

  5. Click on the AutoSum button on the ribbon to enter the SUM function into cell C7.

  6. Press the ENTER key on the keyboard to accept the function.

  7. The answer 81 should appear in cell C7.

  8. Click on cell C7 and the complete function = SUM (C1 : C6) appears in the formula bar above the worksheet.


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