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How to Add Two Cells in Excel

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(85 Ratings)

One of the best things about a spreadsheet is using formulas to calculate values automatically. When you tell Microsoft Excel to add two cells (perhaps the cells that represent the number of men and women in a class that you are teaching), the program will automatically recalculate the answer if the values of the cells being added change. These steps work with Microsoft Excel 97.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Start Microsoft Excel, and open the file you want to use.

  2. Step 2

    Click on the cell in which you want the total to appear.

  3. Step 3

    Press the + key on the keyboard. This character will appear in the cell and in the Formula Bar.

  4. Step 4

    Click on the first cell you want to add. That cell's name, such as B6, appears in the Formula Bar after the + sign.

  5. Step 5

    Press the + key again.

  6. Step 6

    Click on the second cell you want to add. That cell's name appears in the Formula Bar.

  7. Step 7

    Press Enter to complete the equation. The total will appear in the initial cell.

Tips & Warnings
  • To view the resulting formula, click on the cell that contains the total. The equation is displayed in the Formula Bar.
  • The cells being added can be anywhere in the spreadsheet. You can also add more than two cells or add the total cell to another cell.
  • The Formula Bar is located between the toolbar and the column heads.
  • To delete your current change, open the Edit menu, and select Undo.

Comments  

Rheality said

Flag This Comment

on 12/4/2008 This was so helpful! Someone once showed me using =SUM (...) it was a mission to remember that! Thanks so much for this quick and easy way to add cells!

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