Excel Addition Operator
Addition Operator
Addition uses the +
symbol in Excel, and is also known as plus.
There are two ways to do addition in Excel. Either by using the +
symbol in a formula or by using the SUM function.
How to add cells:
- Select a cell and type (
=
) - Select a cell
- Type (
+
) - Select another cell
- Hit enter
You can add more cells to the formula by typing (+) between the cells.
Let's have a look at some examples.
Adding Two Manual Entries
- Type
A1(=)
- Type
5+5
- Hit enter
![](addition1.png)
![](addition2.png)
Congratulations! You have successfully added 5+5=10
.
Adding Two Cells
First let's add some numbers to work with. Type the following values:
![](addition3.png)
How to do it, step by step:
- Type
B1(=)
- Select
A1
- Type (
+
) - Select
A2
- Hit enter
![](addition4.png)
![](addition5.png)
Great! 30
is the result by adding A1
and A2
.
Adding Several Cells
First let's add some numbers to work with. Type the following values:
![](addition6.png)
Step by step to add several cells:
- Type
B1(=)
- Select
A1
- Type (
+
) - Select
A2
- Type (
+
) - Select
A3
- Type (
+
) - Select
A4
- Type (
+
) - Select
A5
- Hit enter
![](addition7.png)
![](addition8.png)
Good job! You have successfully added five cells!
Adding with SUM
Let's keep the numbers from the last exercise. If you did last exercise, remove the value in B1
.
![](addition6.png)
Step by step to add with SUM:
- Type
B1(=SUM)
- Double click the
SUM
command - Mark the range
A1:A5
- Hit enter
![](addition9.png)
![](addition10.png)
![](addition11.png)
![](addition12.png)
Note: SUM
saves you time! Keep practicing this function.
Adding Using Absolute Reference
You can also lock a cell and add it to other cells.
How to do it, step by step:
- Select a cell and type (
=
) - Select the cell you want to lock, add two dollar signs (
$
) before the column and row - Type (
+
) - Fill a range
Let's have a look at an example where we add B(5)
to the range A1:A10
using absolute reference and the fill function.
Type the values:
![](addition13.png)
Step by step:
- Type
C1(=)
- Select
B1
- Type dollar sign before column and row
$B$1
- Type (
+
) - Select
A1
- Hit enter
- Fill the range
C1:C10
![](addition14.png)
![](addition15.png)
![](addition16.png)
![](addition17.png)
![](addition18.png)
Great! You have successfully used absolute reference to add B1(5)
with the range A1:A10
.