You need to commit your formula with ctrl+shift+enter to make it an array
formula
Double click the cell, then hold down shift and control keys now tap the
Enter key
best wishes

--
Bernard V Liengme
Microsoft Excel MVP
http://people.stfx.ca/bliengme
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"mebsmith" wrote in message
...
I am trying to get the absolute average of a column of positive and
negative
numbers, so i am trying to gather the absolute sum of the numbers using
the
following:

=SUM(ABS($F3:$F216))

however it returns a number (1) that isn't the correct answer. However
when
i hit the function key in the formula bar the correct answer is displayed
under the inputs.

What am I doing wrong? Please help/