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Using SUM in formulas Excel 2007

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  • 25-11-2012 5:07pm
    #1
    Gerry1995
    Registered Users Posts: 224 ✭✭


    Just wondering why some people use the SUM function for most simple multiply and divide e.g if I want to multiply the content of say B10 by C10 I would use =B10*C10. Some people use =SUM(B10*C10) they give the same answer so why use SUM


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    #2
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,889 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    =sum(a1:a20)


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    #3
    Gerry1995
    Registered Users Posts: 224 ✭✭Gerry1995


    Capt'n, did you read my post, I have no idea what you mean by this response


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    #4
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,889 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    try it ,

    it's like the old BASIC keyword LET

    as in LET A=1 it's optional A=1 is the same
    (but in many other languages you'd have to explicitly define A before you could say A=1)

    SUM is probably optional for one value
    to add a range you must use it.

    it's all in the help somewhere one supposes


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    #5
    Gerry1995
    Registered Users Posts: 224 ✭✭Gerry1995


    I know well what the sum() function is for my question is what is the difference between =B10*C10 and =SUM(B10*C10) why would you use the sum version ?


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    #6
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,889 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    try it ,
    ...

    it's all in the help somewhere one supposes
    :)


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    #7
    homer911
    Registered Users Posts: 5,113 ✭✭✭homer911


    Gerry1995 wrote: »
    I know well what the sum() function is for my question is what is the difference between =B10*C10 and =SUM(B10*C10) why would you use the sum version ?

    Because you have been badly taught, or dont have a clue what you are doing...


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    #8
    28064212
    Registered Users Posts: 10,506 ✭✭✭✭28064212


    homer911 wrote: »
    Because you have been badly taught, or dont have a clue what you are doing...
    ^This. SUM(num) just returns num. There is no reason to do it. Might as well subtract zero, won't change anything

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    #9
    homer911
    Registered Users Posts: 5,113 ✭✭✭homer911


    Some programming languages cant cope with null or missing values in add statements, sum() will usually overcome this

    For example if A is null and B = 2

    A+B would result in null

    while

    Sum(A,B) would result in 2

    Perhaps whoever wrote the original sum statement was coming from this stable..


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    #10
    Gerry1995
    Registered Users Posts: 224 ✭✭Gerry1995


    Ok thank you all for the contribution. I asked my question why would anyone use SUM in this way as my wife is attending a Business admin course and the tutor, who considers herself an Excel expert, always seems to write formulae in this way. I don't do this myself. Oh btw Homer, you just redeemed yourself following your less than helpful 1st reply, thank you for the clear explanation.


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