What you will build

Total the five Amount values and return 920.

Learning objective

Enter the formula in a blank output area, understand every argument, compare the result with the visible source data and diagnose range or criterion mistakes.

Open the practice workbook

Use the sample below and keep the full source table visible while checking the result.

HANDS-ON PRACTICE

Practice in your own copy

Make your own Google Sheets copy with the same data, formulas, formatting, filter and frozen header. The original remains unchanged.

Make a Google Sheets copy (access required) ↗View original

Sign in to Google. If the original is not publicly shared, download the full workbook and import it into Google Sheets, or paste the example data into your own sheet.

Google Sheets showing the complete source table before reviewing the formula result.

Open the sample workbook in Google Drive (access required) ↗

Hands-on practice

Step 1: Choose a blank summary cell such as H2 and enter =SUM(E2:E6).

=SUM(E2:E6)

Step 2: Compare the returned result with the visible source rows before using it in a report.

Google Sheets with H2 selected, the name box showing H2, the formula bar showing =SUM(E2:E6), the result 920 visible in H2, and the complete source table A1:F6 visible in the same frame.

Checkpoint

FormulaVerified result
=SUM(E2:E6)920

Verified against the visible sample data.

Common mistakes and fixes

If the value differs, recheck the exact source range, argument order, criterion spelling and output cell.

Independent practice

Change one relevant input deliberately, predict the new result first, verify it in Sheets, then restore the original sample.

Key takeaways

  • ✓Total the five Amount values and return 920.
  • ✓Use the exact formula rather than typing the answer manually.
  • ✓SUM adds numeric values in a range.
  • ✓E2:E6 is the Amount range.
  • ✓A formula ending at E6 will not include a future value added below row 6.
QUICK CHECK

Check your understanding

Answer four questions about the practice sheet.

1. What is the verified result?
2. Which formula is used?
3. What should be checked first if the result differs?
4. Why keep the source table visible?

Continue learning

Next lesson: AVERAGE function.