Running Total Calculator

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This tool calculates the running total or cumulative sum of a series of numbers. It also computes the average of the series.

Simply enter the sequence of numbers (positive or negative) in the first row. Each number should be separate by a comma.

Example calculations

For the sequence of numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 the total is 15 and the average is 15/5 = 3.

What is a Running Total?

A running total refers to the cumulative sum of a series of data values. It is a technique used to display the total accumulation of a particular variable as new data points are added. In essence, it calculates the sum of values from the beginning of a sequence up until a given point.

It is updated every time a new number is added to the sequence. Essentially the total doesn’t have to be recalculated every time a new number is added and so it’s very efficient.

For example, in an Excel spreadsheet, a running total can be computed by using a formula to continuously update the sum as new data is recorded in each row. This is particularly useful when dealing with scores or any numerical values that you want to keep track of in a progressive manner.

💡 By using the running total technique, it becomes easier to monitor the progression and growth of a sequence of numbers over time.

Whether you need to analyze the growth of sales figures or track the scores of a sports team, a running total allows you to record and visualize the cumulative sum of your data.

The average is the running total divided by the length of the sequence.

Where is this calculator used?

It is used to quickly calculate both the sum and the average of a series of numbers.

An example is to calculate the total gain in a receive or transmit RF chain. The analog signal chain might contain both amplifiers and attenuators. The gain or attenuation of each element in the chain is specified in deciBel (dB).

For instance there are three RF components in a receive chain:

  • Amplifier with a gain of 10 dB
  • Attenuator with a gain of -20 dB
  • Passive mixer with a gain of -10 dB

Note: gain with a negative sign indicates a loss.

Use the calculator on this page to calculate the total gain. Enter the gain for each element in the chain. The values in dB should be entered with each separated by a comma.

For the above example the answer is -20 dB.

Since the final answer has a negative sign, the chain attenuates the input signal. In this case by 20 dB. On the other hand, if it were a positive sign then the chain amplifies the input.

Assuming the input signal is -50 dBm, then the output attenuated signal is -50-20 = -70 dBm.

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