You can use a simple formula to sum numbers in a range (a group of cells), but the SUM function is easier to use when you’re working with more than a few numbers. For example =SUM(A2:A6) is less likely to have typing errors than =A2+A3+A4+A5+A6.

Here’s a formula that uses two cell ranges: =SUM(A2:A4,C2:C3) sums the numbers in ranges A2:A4 and C2:C3. You’d press Enter to get the total of 39787.

To create the formula:

1. Type =SUM in a cell, followed by an opening parenthesis (.

2. To enter the first formula range, which is called an argument (a piece of data the formula needs to run), type A2:A4 (or select cell A2 and drag through cell A6).

3. Type a comma (,) to separate the first argument from the next.

4. Type the second argument, C2:C3 (or drag to select the cells).

5. Type a closing parenthesis ), and then press Enter.

Each argument can be a range, a number, or single cell references, all separated by commas.

• =SUM(A2:A4,2429,10482)

• =SUM(4823,A3:A4,C2:C3)

• =SUM(4823,12335,9718,C2:C3)

• =SUM(A2,A3,A4,2429,10482)