Sum of multiple numbers in a single cell?

I suggest consider another, in my opinion, simpler, way...

start with a table similar to yours. Enter the mileage as "One way" as shown.

now format the first row, using the contextual row menu, as a header row:

Now add another column for "Round Trip Distance":

now let's enter a formula to compute road trip distance from "One way" (assuming the distance is there and back again):

select cell D2 (as shown) and type (or copy and paste from here) the formula:

=IF(C2<>"", 2×C2, "")

short hand for this is:

D2=IF(C2<>"", 2×C2, "")

now let's make the last row a footer row. This is where we will total the column of two way distances.

select any cell in the table, then open the table formatter on the right and choose 1 footer row:

now let's fill the formula for computing two-way distance down the column:

select cell D2, copy

select cells D2 thru the end of column D but skipping the last row (the footer row), like this:

Paste

now select the the cell in column D that is in the footer (in this example it's cell D10).

D10=sum(D)

now enter a one-way distance in column C:

Using your original numbers:

Hi AMC,

A cell in a Numbers table can contain a numeric value, a quasi numeric value (such as a duration or a date&time value), a text value or a formula that calculates a single value.

A cell cannot contain two numeric values, except as part of a formula (that calculates a single value).

In your example, 9.9 is a numeric value, but '9.9 miles' is a text value, as is '9.9 miles' return 9.9 miles.

If all of your out and back distances are the same in both directions, then Wayne's solution is one that will serve you well.

If there is a possibility of the trip out not being the same distance as the trip back, then using two columns, one for each direction, would be a better route to take.

Here's an example. The 'map' to the right of the table shows one scenario for a trip from home (south of the map) to client C and back again, with different distances out and back.

Formulas:

E2, and filled down: =IF(D2="","",SUM(C2:D2))

The IF is used as a switch to prevent calculation until the return distance is entered.

E10 (row 10 is a Footer row): =SUM(E)

Regards,

Barry

What you are describing is a basic Numbers function. In your example you would place each milage number in a separate cell, then format the cells to look like you have entered by removing the borders on the cells. Then do your calculations on the milage numbers that were entered. You would not put two numbers in each cell. I think you should read each of the following Apps Knowledge Base articles to better understand how a numbers spreadsheet works.

http://help.apple.com/numbers/mac/4.0/

Numbers for Mac: Calculate values using data in table cells in a Numbers spreadsheet

http://help.apple.com/functions/mac/7.0/