I am trying to do a very simple formula =A1-(A2:A6) and I keep getting a "the range A2:A6 cannot be used as a single value." Is there a simple work around for this that does not necessitate me totaling up A2:A6 in a different column and then using the total as my single value? I've used a range of numbers as an equation in a formula before.
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)
Cat,
I am not sure what you are trying to do so I will guess that you are trying to subtract the sum of the range A2 thru A6 from cell A1. If this is the case then you should try:
=A1-SUM(A2:A6)
the function sum takes a range of cells as an input and returns the numerical values the results from adding the value in each cell up.
CN,
The error message is because of the context. The range, your A2:A6, means nothing except as an argument for a function. The arithmetic operator "-" only works on a single value.
Jerry
Range cannot be used as a single value?
