Error in cell

[lucysmomma]

Hi, I am trying to figure out a spreadsheet that is totally messed up. Please forgive my ignorance, but in order for a SUM to work properly, doesn't it have to have more than one cell number in it?

[#2]

@lucysmomma 

That's not obligatory. You can use =SUM(A1) without problems or errors, although it makes little sense. A more common use would be something like =SUM(A1,A4) or =SUM(A1:A4)

[#3]

@lucysmomma.... SUM(A1) might make sense if A1 might be text that you want to be treated as zero in an arithmetic expression.  I prefer to use N(A1), since that is its purpose.

SUM($A$1:A1) can be very useful.   When it is copied into another cell to the right and/or down, the range is automagically extended.  For example, as you drag the formula down the column, the reference becomes SUM($A$1:A2), SUM($A$1:A3), etc.

If you are having trouble figuring out some problems, I suggest that you attach an example Excel file and describe the problems so that we might be able to help you.