Math
Adding two separate ranges
Definition
Adding two separate ranges means giving SUM both blocks so their numbers are totalled in one formula.
Syntax
=SUM(number1, [number2], ...)
Arguments
| Argument | Meaning |
|---|---|
number1 |
The first range to add, such as B2:B3. |
number2, ... |
The second range to add in the same total, such as D2:D3. |
Worked example
A dock sheet stores morning counts in B2:B3 and evening counts in D2:D3.
| A: Bay | B: Morning | D: Evening |
|---|---|---|
| North | 10 | 3 |
| South | 5 | 4 |
Formula: =SUM(B2:B3,D2:D3)
Result: 22. 10 + 5 + 3 + 4 equals 22.
Practice
Cells A2:A3 hold 4 and 6. Cells C2:C3 hold 1 and 2. In E2, write a formula that totals both ranges.
- In E2, write a SUM formula for A2:A3 and C2:C3.
- E2 should show the total of A2:A3 and C2:C3.
Step 1 of 2
Enter =SUM(A2:A3,C2:C3) in E2.
4 + 6 + 1 + 2 is 13.
Formulas here use English function names, such as SUM, and a period as the decimal separator, in every language.
Loading the sheet…
E2 uses SUM.
E2 now shows 13.
The next lesson is Adding numbers down a column.
Related functions
SUM is the function that adds those two ranges in one step.
Common mistake
Adding only the first range, as in =SUM(B2:B3): 10 + 5 is 15, so the evening counts 3 and 4 are missing from 22.