Totalizar

Totalizar is a verb used in Portuguese and Spanish that means to obtain a total by summing individual values. It derives from the word total and the suffix -izar, indicating the action of making or bringing to a total. In mathematics, accounting, statistics, and data processing, to totalize is to compute the final amount or tally by adding the elements of a set.

In practical terms, totalizing involves calculating a running sum or a final figure for a group of items. In spreadsheets, the SUM function is commonly used to totalize a column or row. In accounting or finance, totalizing expenses, revenues, or costs yields the overall figure for a given period. In statistics, totalizing frequencies means summing counts across categories to produce a total sample size. In sports or scoring, totalizing points refers to determining the final score.

Differences with related terms can be subtle. Somar generally denotes the act of adding numbers, while totalizar emphasizes obtaining a final total after the addition, sometimes considering categories, subtotals, or rounding. The noun form totalización (or totalización) denotes the act or result of totaling. The term is widely used in formal and technical contexts and has parallel usage in both Portuguese and Spanish, with similar meanings in each language.