How to Multiply a Sum in Google Sheets?

There are a couple of ways to multiply a sum in Google Sheets. You can either sum the values first and then multiply, or you can use an array formula.

Here's how to do it:

1. Sum First, Then Multiply:

This is the more straightforward approach.

• Step 1: Calculate the Sum: Use the SUM() function to add the numbers you want to sum. For example, if you want to sum the values in cells A1, A2, and A3, the formula would be =SUM(A1:A3).

• Step 2: Multiply the Sum: Multiply the result of the SUM() function by the number you want to multiply the sum by. For example, if you want to multiply the sum by 5, the formula would be =SUM(A1:A3)*5.

Example:

Cell	Value
A1	2
A2	3
A3	4

The formula =SUM(A1:A3)*5 would first calculate the sum of A1:A3 (2+3+4 = 9), and then multiply the sum by 5 (9 * 5 = 45). The result (45) would be displayed in the cell where you entered the formula.

2. Using an Array Formula (If you want to avoid an explicit SUM() function):

This method uses the ARRAYFORMULA function and the SUM() function to achieve the same result in a slightly different way. This is useful when you want a more compact formula, but it can be less readable for others.

• Step 1: Construct the Multiplication within ARRAYFORMULA: Multiply the range of cells by the desired multiplier. For instance, to multiply the values in A1:A3 by 5, inside an ARRAYFORMULA, you'd have A1:A3 * 5.

• Step 2: Sum the Resultant Array: Enclose the multiplication within the SUM() function. The full formula would look like this: =SUM(ARRAYFORMULA(A1:A3*5)).

Example: Using the same values as above:

Cell	Value
A1	2
A2	3
A3	4

The formula =SUM(ARRAYFORMULA(A1:A3*5)) would first multiply each cell in A1:A3 by 5, resulting in an array {10, 15, 20}. The SUM() function would then add these values together (10 + 15 + 20 = 45).

In summary, to multiply a sum in Google Sheets, calculate the sum using SUM() and then multiply the result, or employ the SUM(ARRAYFORMULA(...)) construction to perform the multiplication and summation in a single formula.