When analyzing merchandise sales, what should be selected as the summation method for total sales?

The summation method for total sales should be the sum. This is because the sum function is designed to add together all relevant values in a dataset, making it ideal for calculating the total sales figure. When analyzing merchandise sales, the goal is often to find out the total revenue generated from all transactions. The sum function takes all individual sales amounts and combines them into a single total, providing a clear picture of overall sales performance.

Using the count function would only give the number of sales transactions and not the actual sales revenue. The average function calculates a mean value, which does not reflect total sales but rather an average sale per transaction. The max function identifies the highest value in the dataset, which does not contribute to understanding the total sales amount. Therefore, the sum is the most appropriate method for determining total sales when analyzing merchandise sales.