How to subtract sum of several cells from fixed number.

Performing calculations in Excel involves a wide range of operations, including subtracting the sum of multiple cells from a fixed number. This type of calculation can be useful in various scenarios, such as budgeting, goal tracking, or evaluating variances. 

Suppose you have an Excel sheet containing the following column: Yearly Target, Monthly Sales, and Difference. This tutorial will explore different methods to subtract the sum of several cells from a fixed number, allowing you to simplify your calculations and achieve accurate results. Now let’s take a look at the Dataset.

Method – 1 Using SUM and Subtracting functions.

To subtract the sum of several cells from a fixed number in Excel, the easiest way is to use a formula. In this case, we will utilize the SUM function to calculate the sum of the cells, and then perform the subtract operation.

Step – 1 Sum the columns.

• First, go to cell B14 and insert the formula.
• The syntax of this formula will be

=SUM(First_Cell_Address: Second_Cell_Address)

• In our case, the formula will be

=SUM(B2:B13)

• Now press Enter to apply the formula.

Step – 2 Subtract the numbers.

• Now go to cell C2 and insert the formula.
• The syntax of this formula will be

= First_Cell_Address – Second_Cell_Address

• In our case, the formula will be

=A2-B14

• Press Enter to apply the formula.

Method – 2 Using Paste Special.

In our case, the Paste Special feature in Excel allows us to selectively paste data, giving us the ability to customize the way we want to paste the copied data and perform simple math operations. Let’s explore how we can use this feature to subtract the sum of several cells from a fixed number.

Step – 1 Copy the cells.

• First, select cell A2 and press Ctrl + C to copy this cell.
• Now, go to cell C2 and paste here using Ctrl + V.
• Next, copy cell B14 as previously and then right-click on cell C2.
• Here, click on Paste Special.

Step – 2 Subtract the numbers.

• In the Paste Special dialog box select Values and Subtract from the options.
• Then click OK.

Conclusion:

Subtracting the sum of multiple cells from a fixed number in Excel is a common calculation that can simplify various tasks, from financial analysis to data evaluation. By using the subtraction operator, named ranges, or the SUM function with cell references, you can easily perform these calculations and streamline your workflows. Incorporate these techniques into your Excel skills to enhance your data analysis capabilities and achieve accurate results with minimal effort.