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Introduction To Microsoft Excel

Excel Lesson Two

Microsoft Excel provides a special function for users to find the sum of a number of cells. It is called the SUM function.

Lesson Two - Using the SUM function

DESCRIPTION:

This lesson introduces students to the sum function available in Microsoft Excel. Students will be able to use this function to add up the values in a range of cells.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson students should be able to :

  1. Edit the contents of a cell
  2. Enter Data
  3. Correctly use the Sum Function

Format for the SUM function

=SUM(first cell address : last cell address)

  1. Remember to start the function with the equal sign
  2. The word SUM follows the equal sign
  3. An open baracket is next followed by the address of the first cell in the range
  4. A colon comes next followed by a closing bracket

School Attendance Worksheet

Exercise 2.1

Use the data from exercise 1.1 for exercise 2.1. If you do not have access to that data then enter the following labels and values as seen below in a blank EXCEL worksheet.

After you enter the data we will enter a formula in cell B5 , Press the Enter Key and watch excel perform its magic.

A B C
1 ATTENDANCE Monday Tuesday
2 Boys 532
3 Girls 642
4 Teachers 32
5 Total =B2 +B3 +B4

After you press the Enter Key the Value 1206 will be displayed in cell B5

If you do not get the same answer as I then check your values and formula again.

Your Turn

Change the contents in cell B5 from =B2+B3+B4 to =SUM(B2:B4)

  1. Enter 500 in cell C2
  2. Enter 640 in cell C3
  3. Enter 32 in cell C4

What formula do you think should go in cell C5 ?

A B C
1 ATTENDANCE Monday Tuesday
2 Boys 532 500
3 Girls 642 640
4 Teachers 32 32
5 Total =SUM(B2:B4)

If your answer is =SUM(C2:C4) you are correct.

After you press the ENTER Key the formula you entered will be replaced with the value 1172

Exercise 2.2

In column D enter the following values and the appropriate formula in cell D5 :

  1. Enter 505 in cell D2
  2. Enter 643 in cell D3
  3. Enter 31 in cell D4

Use the SUM function in cell D5. If you use the correct formula and you are accurate when entering the given values then the value 1179 will be displayed in cell D5 after you press the enter key.

Activity 1

A B C D
1 Trinidad Wholesalers Ltd
2 January February March
3 Sales 50400 65875 60456
4 Expenditure 40356 45765 42348
5 Profit =B3-B4

  1. Go to Chapter 14- Spreadsheets - Log On to IT for CSEC 3rd edition
  2. Complete Activity 1 on page 308
  3. Add the Label Profit in cell A5
  4. Place formulae in cells B5, C5 and D5 to subtract Expenditure from Sales
  5. Use the Sum function in column E where needed - E3, E4
  6. Change the Sheet name to Profit
  7. Save the file on your flash drive as Wholesalers

Here is a Hint to get you started

The formula =SUM(B3:D3) must be placed into cell E3

Excel Lesson Three - Sales and Expenses

...........

End of Lesson Two - Using the SUM function in Excel

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