Excel 2007 SUM question

[reddevilggg]

I've been told by my tutor that i do not need to over use the 'SUM' function. (Apparently, she dislikes the over use of it and marked me down for using it in the first part of my assignment).

Problem is, i'm now going through the second part and i need to find the total of a column, so i use the SUM function, i cant 'not' use it. I've been through the 'excel options' and can't see anything to change. I'm i missing something obvious or is it because i used it unneccessarily with an IF statement and lost mark and know im paraniod about using it.

So, basically, my question is, when find the total of a column, is the SUM function mandatory?

[BC_Programmer]

It doesn't really answer the question, but it would be what I use.

Obviously, the other method would be to use A1+A2+A3... etc which would be stupid.

Lastly, I think it's unprofessional for her to mark you down just because she doesn't like something. It's Excel. If you were working with VBA or a programming language, then yeah, coding style might make a difference, but using SUM isn't a bad practice, because it does what it's supposed to. It sums the range.


How did you use Sum() with IF?

[reddevilggg]

How did you use Sum() with IF?

I had to find the total charge and if it totaled 0 then cell had to be blank. To tell the truth i can see her point, but my arguement is that, i havn't been taught not to use it, anyway, i wrote

=IF(SUM(C7*$D$2)=0, "",(SUM(C7*$D$2)))

It obviously works and i can see that =IF(C7*$D$2=0, "",C7*$D$2) would of worked the same. I just wish that i'd of known about the 'efficient use of formula' rule, i just wrote it as i 'think' it.

[rthompson80819]

Obviously, the other method would be to use A1+A2+A3... etc which would be stupid.

I used to work with someone who claimed to be an expert with Excel.  I just happened to be looking over her shoulder one day as she was building a spreadsheet, and that's how she did it.  And they were big spreadsheets.

I showed her how to use the SUM function, and she thought it was the greatest thing she had ever seen.

[reddevilggg]

While on the subject, does anyone know how to get the 'x-bar' symbol representing the mean. I've been looking through the symbols for ages, googles' not much help.

[BC_Programmer]

I had to find the total charge and if it totaled 0 then cell had to be blank. To tell the truth i can see her point, but my arguement is that, i havn't been taught not to use it, anyway, i wrote

=IF(SUM(C7*$D$2)=0, "",(SUM(C7*$D$2)))

It obviously works and i can see that =IF(C7*$D$2=0, "",C7*$D$2) would of worked the same. I just wish that i'd of known about the 'efficient use of formula' rule, i just wrote it as i 'think' it.

In the same situation I probably would have used another cell.

Actually, to be honest I find myself constantly just writing a VBA function whenever I need anything in excel, rather then looking up whatever silly function they have.

I don't have to use excel much though

While on the subject, does anyone know how to get the 'x-bar' symbol representing the mean. I've been looking through the symbols for ages, googles' not much help.

found this:

http://www.contextures.com/xlfaqFun.html#bar



In any case, As far as I know, SUM is the best way to find the Sum of a column. There are other ways but they are more verbose.