How To Use Sum Function In Apple Numbers

How To Use Sum Function In Apple Numbers

In this quick tech how-to video, I’m going to show you how to use the sum function inside of Apple Numbers.

The sum function is one of the basic formulas inside of Numbers, but also one of the most helpful and often used.

I use spreadsheets to create monthly budget sheets for myself, for instance, keeping track of my income and debts, and it’s become one of the most beneficial things for me.

To get started, open a new Numbers file.

Just to have some numbers to work with, I’ll create a few columns here and enter some data.

We see here in the first column is our income. We have 2 sources of income, so I will enter that data.

Then we’ll create a few more columns, bills, credit cards, and student loans. Then we’ll just quickly enter some numbers here. This will be where you go through all of your debts and organize them.

So now we have our data.

I usually leave a space, and then start my sum function.

Type in, =sum( and then select the first income, press the plus sign, and then the second income. Press enter.

That will then perform the function, adding the sums of the 2 cells we selected.

Next, select the cell at the bottom of the bills column, type =sum( and then for this one, we want everything in that column, so select the top bill data, and drag down to the bottom like this, then press enter.

This will add everything in the selection we just made.

You can do that for the next 2 columns.

Now that we have our cells added up using the sum function there, I will drop down a couple more cells, and type total income. In the cell next to that, type =sum( and then select just the income total cell, and press enter.

Now, if we ever add or change our income, this field will also take effect.

Next row, type total debt, next cell type =sum( and then click and drag across the debt totals, same as we did on the individual bill data. Press enter and that will add those up.

Finally, skip a row and type balance, and in the next cell, type =sum(, select the total income cell, and then press the minus button, and finally your total debt, and press enter.

This will then give you your balance, income minus debt.

This spreadsheet like I said is incredibly important I feel for everyone. I use it every month to help keep things in check and adjust as my situations change, and I hope it helps you guys out.

And it's that simple to use the sum function inside of Apple Numbers.

Thank you for watching! Please like and subscribe and stay tuned for more quick tech how-to videos.

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[GoldBunny]

Awesome! Thank you for this, but you know what sucks with Mac Numbers?! It's that it can't do a simple formula as such =sum(a1)-(b1, b2, b3, b4, b12) because it results in a red error symbol. Am I missing something or should I have stuck with my advanced Microsoft excel that seems to have been able to do so much more. 🤷🏻‍♀

[Sophia-zktw]

question so that i don't have to enter in every food bill is it possible to enter amounts at different times in one cell to add all my food bill ? without having lets say 6 rows for food to add up ?

[thomasjacques]

I have to do all that, why can’t a I just highlight a column of numbers and press a button.

[ytrue]

what if i have to sum 50 or more cells?

[namdar]

It doesn't explain how to get to the total of cells without having to click and drag all of them (for instance when I want to know the total of c11 down to c189 in a sheet). I would love to learn how to select the first and last cell and what formula to type so that numbers add those two cells and all cells in between them (works on google sheets by doing c11:c189). Thanks!

[Listentomenowandhearmelater]

Didn’t work :/. I tried to add the content of a column and ended up with a wildly incorrect number one time, and a triangle with an exclamation point the other times. Why can’t they just make it as easy as excel? Going back to a dell next time

[peregrinolincoln]

Thank you for this video. I still really dislike Apple Numbers. I think it is very confusing and difficult to use. Not user friendly at all.