What is the function of the SUM function in SAS?

The SUM function in SAS is specifically designed to compute the total sum of numeric arguments. When you use the SUM function, it adds all specified numbers together and returns the result as a single value. This function is particularly useful in data analysis and reporting, where calculating totals is a frequent operation.

For instance, if you have a dataset containing numeric values representing sales amounts, applying the SUM function allows you to quickly assess the total sales. Notably, the SUM function also handles missing values: if any argument is missing, it is ignored in the computation, preventing any issues that might arise from including missing data in the sum.

The other options focus on different types of calculations that the SUM function does not perform. For example, calculating averages or counting non-missing values requires different functions, showcasing the distinct purposes of SAS's various built-in functions.