Calculate Your Hours Spent

In this video, you will calculate how long you spent on all of the activities you recorded.

To make your calculations, you will use the SUM function.

The "SUM function" is a formula that adds all the numbers in a range of cells.

Adding up a long list of numbers is repetitive.

And, it takes a really long time.

Using formulas like the SUM function in a spreadsheet helps you calculate numbers more quickly and accurately.

To begin, add the word "Total" beneath the list of activities and times and bold the text.

Now, use the SUM function to add up the time in the "hours" column.

First, type an equals sign, which all functions and formulas in spreadsheets begin with.

Then, type the word "SUM." Next, type an open parenthesis sign.

Click and select the range of cells that contain hours, then close the parenthesis.

Press Enter.

The total number of hours will be calculated automatically.

Repeat the sum function for your "Minutes" column.

Then, select the cell with your total number of minutes.

Each cell has its own address, called the cell reference, with a specific row and column.

For example, the cell D-13 is in column D, row 13.

When you click on a cell, the contents of the cell reference will be added to your formula.

Type the divide sign and the number "60." Press Enter to get your total minutes converted to hours.

Now, add a heading to get ready and calculate your "Total Hours Spent." To see how much time you spend on your activities, add up your total hours and minutes.

To do this, select the cell that contains the hours.

Then, type a plus sign.

Select the cell with minutes converted to hours.

Press Enter.

If your total is more or less than 24, you may have over- or under-estimated how much time you spent on a particular task.

For example, maybe you included two hours for babysitting your brother and an hour of practicing the guitar, but you actually did these at the same time.

Remove a task or reduce the time spent in a particular activity.

Your totals will update automatically.

Now, it's your turn: calculate the total hours you spent on your activities, calculate the total minutes, convert the minutes into hours, add a heading for "Total Hours Spent", and add up the total time.