How do you create a formula that will add 1 to a total?

Question

I have an Excel spreadsheet I'm using for my sister's baby shower. I want to write a formula so that when I mark "Y" (when someone says they're coming) it will add one to the sum at the bottom of the column.

I have no idea how to begin to write this type of formula. Can anyone help?

Thanks

Answer 1

The easiest way would be to use "1" for someone coming and "0" for them not coming (or your not knowing if they are). In that case, the formula would just be the sum of all of the rows in that column.

Doing that would also allow you the ability to indicate that someone is bringing a guest by entering "2" and you'd get a count of the total number of people coming.

Answer 2

Put this where you want the total to appear.

=COUNTIF(B1:B20, "Y")

or whatever the range of cells you want checked is.