Final answer:
To insert subtotals using the sum function for each category, sort your data by category, use the 'Subtotal' feature in Excel, select the category and sum function, choose the columns to sum, and then apply the subtotals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of inserting subtotals using the sum function for each category involves organizing your data by category, and then using the subtotal feature in a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel to calculate the total for each distinct group. Here is a step-by-step explanation on how to do this:
- Sort your data by the category column to ensure that the same categories are grouped together.
- Select the range of cells where you want to apply the subtotals.
- Go to the Data tab on the toolbar and click on the 'Subtotal' button.
- In the Subtotal dialogue box, choose the category column for the 'At each change in' dropdown.
- Select 'Sum' as the function.
- Choose the column(s) you want to sum for the subtotals.
- Click 'OK' and the subtotals will be added to your data.
This grouping allows you to see partial totals for each category, making it easier to analyze your data. It's important to ensure that your data is correctly sorted by category before applying subtotals to avoid incorrect calculations.