What does the SUM function do in Excel?

The SUM function in Excel is specifically designed to calculate the total of a group of numbers from selected cells. When you apply the SUM function, it adds together all the numeric values within a specified range or list of cells. This is particularly useful for quickly aggregating data, such as total sales, expenses, or any other quantitative measures, without the need to manually calculate the sum. The function simplifies data analysis and helps in making informed decisions based on total values.

The other options relate to different functions or operations in Excel, which serve specific purposes like finding minimum values, counting entries, or calculating averages, but they do not pertain to the main function of summation.