The SUMIF() function is specifically designed to calculate the sum of values in a range that meets a single, specified condition or criterion. The function's syntax is SUMIF(range, criteria, [sumrange]), where it evaluates the range against the criteria and sums the corresponding cells in the sumrange. This directly addresses the question's requirement to sum cells based on "a certain condition" (singular).

A. SUMIFS() is designed to sum cells based on multiple conditions or criteria, making it less precise for the single-condition scenario described in the question.

B. While both functions can sum cells, SUMIF() is the specific function for a single condition. The question asks for "the formula," implying the most direct tool.

D. AVERAGEIF() and AVERAGEIFS() are incorrect because they calculate the average of cells that meet criteria, not the sum.

1. Microsoft Corporation. (n.d.). SUMIF function. Microsoft Support. Retrieved from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/sumif-function-169b8c99-c05c-4483-a712-1697a653039b

Reference Detail: The official documentation states

"Use SUMIF

one of the statistical functions

to sum the values in a range that meet criteria that you specify." This confirms its use for a single criterion.

2. Microsoft Corporation. (n.d.). SUMIFS function. Microsoft Support. Retrieved from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/sumifs-function-c9e748f5-7ea7-455d-9406-611cebce642b

Reference Detail: The documentation for SUMIFS states

"The SUMIFS function adds all of its arguments that meet multiple criteria." This highlights its primary purpose for handling more than one condition.

3. University of Wisconsin-Madison. (n.d.). Excel - SUMIF and SUMIFS Functions. Division of Information Technology (DoIT). Retrieved from https://kb.wisc.edu/showcase/page.php?id=93515

Reference Detail: The article explicitly distinguishes the two functions: "The SUMIF function is used to conditionally sum values based on a single criterion." and "The SUMIFS function is used to conditionally sum values based on multiple criteria."