Forum Discussion

Copper Contributor

Jan 17, 2021

Excel functions

Hi, could someone recommend me an automatic procedure to make sure that the sum of several values is equal to a certain number?

excel

IngeborgHawighorst

MVP

Jan 17, 2021

Hi Alessandroo3

This really depends on your situation. The sum of several values cannot really be changed. It's simple maths.

But you could run a Goal Seek to find out which cell needs to be changed to arrive at the desired value. The screenshot shows a simple example. A4 has a formula that sums A1 to A3. The Goal Seek dialog (on the Data Ribbon > What-If Analysis > Goal Seek) can be used to change cell A1 so that the result in A4 equals 10. You can use this for way more complex calculations, of course.

Alessandroo3

Copper Contributor

Jan 17, 2021

IngeborgHawighorst

Thanks, I'll try to explain myself better. I have 8 values that add up to X, obviously adding them. I have to make the sum of those cells (regardless of the value they contain) to be X, ie I want the system to change the values so that it always comes out as X. Thanks in advance.