Why should you never use '=sum(A1+A2)'?

[Ted Rogers]

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

[JE McGimpsey]

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 <[email protected]>,
"Ted Rogers" <[email protected]> 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?

[Bob Phillips]

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" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 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]

=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

[Ted Rogers]

"Dave Peterson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> =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