How to sum only positive (or only negative) numbers
✓ Verified in LibreOffice 25.8.7.3Total the gains and losses separately from one mixed column.
The formula
| App | Formula | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Excel | =SUMIF(A2:A6,">0") | Negatives: =SUMIF(A2:A6,"<0"). With no sum range, SUMIF sums the tested range itself. |
| Google Sheets | =SUMIF(A2:A6,">0") | Identical. |
| LibreOffice Calc | =SUMIF(A2:A6,">0") | Identical. |
How it works
SUMIF with ">0" and no separate sum range totals just the positives: 100 + 250 + 30 = 380; "<0" gives the losses (−50 here). Handy companions: the two always reconcile (SUM = positives + negatives), ABS of the negative total gives losses as a positive number, and COUNTIF with the same criteria counts each side.
Verified, not just documented
We ran =SUMIF(A2:A6,">0") in LibreOffice 25.8.7.3 (headless, with forced recalculation) and it returned 380 — exactly the expected result. Every formula here is confirmed by actually executing it.