MS Excel 2007

[jeraldo]

I am trying to create a spreadsheet that will add up certain cells in a column but not all of them. I have 5 columns and 18 rows and wish to take the highest number in each row (across the 5 columns) and add up down the 18 of them. Is there an easy way of doing this? Could it be done highlighting with a colour or other mark?

[tell-me-more]

To the right hand side of each row of your table, enter the formula "=max()" and select the row of numbers to go inside the brackets above (e.g. a2:e2)

That will create a sixth column of 18 numbers, each the maximum of their row.

To find the sum of these numbers use the formula "=sum()" and inside the brackets, select the cells that contain the row maximums.

Does that make sense to you?

Can't think of any easy way to highlight the maximum in each row off the top of my head - but I do have a very cumbersome way if you really want to do it.

[sandmaster]

In the 6th column, against your first row type =MAX(x:xx) where x are the cell references for this row. Press enter. The same formula to be copied down the column to take in each row.
At the bottom of the new column, in the 19th row, you can calculate the SUM of the new column.

[sandmaster]

Sorry tellme - didn't see your answer!!

[jeraldo]

Brilliant! Thanks for your kind help - much appreciated!