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#1
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Why should you never use '=sum(A1+A2)'?
I attended an Excel training course yesterday and looking through the
handout this morning noticed these lines in the overview: '.......when to use '=A1+A2' and when to use '=sum(A1:A10)' and why you should never use '=sum(A1+A2)'. I can't for the life of me remember the trainer's explanation and can't find the answer anywhere. Could anyone help please? Ted |
#2
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The SUM() function is superfluous in this case. Example:
A1: 5 A2: 6 A3: =A1 + A2 ==== 11 A4: =SUM(A1 + A2) === SUM(11) ==== 11 In article , "Ted Rogers" wrote: I attended an Excel training course yesterday and looking through the handout this morning noticed these lines in the overview: '.......when to use '=A1+A2' and when to use '=sum(A1:A10)' and why you should never use '=sum(A1+A2)'. I can't for the life of me remember the trainer's explanation and can't find the answer anywhere. Could anyone help please? |
#3
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Because you are effectively trying to do the same command twice
A1+A2 is summing those two cells, SUM is also saying to sum them You get the correct answer because the A1+A2 is resolved before the SUM acts upon it, but it is unnecessary, and will be inefficient in a large spreadsheet. -- HTH Bob Phillips "Ted Rogers" wrote in message ... I attended an Excel training course yesterday and looking through the handout this morning noticed these lines in the overview: '.......when to use '=A1+A2' and when to use '=sum(A1:A10)' and why you should never use '=sum(A1+A2)'. I can't for the life of me remember the trainer's explanation and can't find the answer anywhere. Could anyone help please? Ted |
#4
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=sum() ignores cells with text in them:
A1: ASDF A2: 3 =sum(a1:a2) will return 3 =sum(a1+a2) will return a #value! error (because a1+a2 will return a #value! error) Ted Rogers wrote: I attended an Excel training course yesterday and looking through the handout this morning noticed these lines in the overview: '.......when to use '=A1+A2' and when to use '=sum(A1:A10)' and why you should never use '=sum(A1+A2)'. I can't for the life of me remember the trainer's explanation and can't find the answer anywhere. Could anyone help please? Ted -- Dave Peterson |
#5
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"Dave Peterson" wrote in message ... =sum() ignores cells with text in them: A1: ASDF A2: 3 =sum(a1:a2) will return 3 =sum(a1+a2) will return a #value! error (because a1+a2 will return a #value! error) Many thanks to everyone for your kind help - I appreciate it. Ted |
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