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SERIESSUM

The SERIESSUM formula is a mathematical function used to calculate the sum of a power series of the form a1xn + a2xn+1 + ... + amxn+m-1. The formula takes four arguments: x (the value at which to evaluate the series), n (the initial exponent), m (the number of terms in the series), and a (an array or range of coefficients). The function is frequently used in finance and engineering to calculate present values and future values of cash flows and other mathematical models.

Usage

Use the SERIESSUM formula with the syntax shown below, it has 4 required parameters:

=SERIESSUM(x, n, m, a)
Parameters:
  1. x (required):
    The value at which to evaluate the series.
  2. n (required):
    The initial exponent of the power series.
  3. m (required):
    The number of terms in the series.
  4. a (required):
    An array or range of coefficients for the series.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the SERIESSUM formula in Google Sheets.

Calculate future value of an annuity

A common use of SERIESSUM is to calculate the future value of an annuity, which is a series of equal payments made at regular intervals. For example, if you have a monthly payment of $100 for 10 years, you can use SERIESSUM to calculate the future value of the annuity after 10 years, assuming a certain interest rate.

Calculate present value of a bond

Another common use of SERIESSUM is to calculate the present value of a bond, which is the sum of the present values of its future cash flows. For example, if you have a bond that pays $100 per year for 10 years and has a face value of $1000, you can use SERIESSUM to calculate the present value of the bond, assuming a certain discount rate.

Calculate depreciation schedule

In accounting, SERIESSUM can be used to calculate the depreciation schedule for an asset over its useful life. For example, if you have an asset with a cost of $10,000 and a useful life of 5 years, you can use SERIESSUM to calculate the depreciation expense for each year, assuming a certain depreciation method.

Common Mistakes

SERIESSUM not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the SERIESSUM Google Sheets Formula:

Incorrect number of arguments

The SERIESSUM formula requires exactly 4 arguments: x, n, m, and a. Check that all 4 arguments are included in the formula.

Invalid value for x

The value of x in the SERIESSUM formula should be a numeric value. Check that the value of x is correct.

Invalid value for n or m

The values of n and m in the SERIESSUM formula should be integers. Check that the values of n and m are correct.

Incorrect range for n or m

The values of n and m in the SERIESSUM formula should be positive integers. Check that the values of n and m are correct.

Invalid value for a

The value of a in the SERIESSUM formula should be a range reference. Check that the value of a is correct.

The following functions are similar to SERIESSUM or are often used with it in a formula:

  • SUM

    The SUM function in Google Sheets adds up a range of numbers. This function is most commonly used to sum the values in a range of cells.

  • SUMIF

    The SUMIF formula is used to add up values in a range that meet a specific criterion. It can be used to sum values based on text, numbers, or dates. The formula is most commonly used in financial analysis, budgeting, and data analysis.

  • SUMIFS

    The SUMIFS formula is a function in Google Sheets that adds the values in a specified range based on multiple criteria. It is most commonly used to sum data that meets specific criteria, such as summing sales for a particular month by region or summing expenses for a specific category and date range.

  • NPV

    The NPV function calculates the net present value of a series of cash flows, discounted by a specified rate. It is commonly used to determine the present value of an investment, where the cash flows represent incoming and outgoing payments. The function takes a discount rate and one or more cash flow values as input.

  • FV

    The FV function calculates the future value of an investment based on periodic constant payments and a constant interest rate. It takes into account the present value of the investment, the number of periods in which the payments are made, and the compounding frequency. This formula is commonly used in financial planning and investment analysis.

Learn More

You can learn more about the SERIESSUM Google Sheets function on Google Support.