Summing and Difference Amplifier

Paolo Louis Manghihilot

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
University of San Carlos
Nasipit,Talamban, Cebu City
paololouism@gmail.com
Abstract This paper presents the Summing and
DifferenceAmplifier.Itaimstomanifesttheoperationofa
2input summing operational amplifier circuit. It also
exemplifies the operation of the difference operational
amplifiercircuit.Italsoshowshowthedesignprocessfor
thesumminganddifferenceoperationalamplifiercircuits.
Furthermore,inputvoltageandoutputvoltagewaveforms
are also illustrated to properly observe and study the
characteristicsofthesetwokindsofamplifier.
I. INTRODUCTION
In the experiment on Basic Amplifiers, it discusses on
Inverting amplifier, Non-inverting amplifier and Voltage
Follower amplifier. It is known that in an inverting amplifier
circuit configuration it has a single input voltage applied to its
input terminal. However, adding more resistors to the input
terminal gives another operational amplifier circuit called a
Summing Amplifier. Fig. 1 below best represents the circuit of
a summing amplifier.

John Carlo Tigue

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
University of San Carlos
Nasipit,Talamban, Cebu City
tigue johncarlo@gmail.com
The circuit looks somewhat the same way as an inverting
amplifier but in this case, there are three input resistors or R in.
With this configuration, the output voltage/V out becomes
proportional to the sum of the input voltages. In other words,
Vout can be described as an inverted, scaled sum of the
voltages applied to the Vin itself. Furthermore, the input
voltages doesnt limit to two or three input voltages or input
resistors. It can be increased as needed. Equation 1 shows the
formula of a summing amplifiers voltage output where, R f as
the feedback resistor, Rn as the input resistor and Vn as the
input voltages.

V out =R f

V1 V2 V3
V
+ + ++ n
R1 R2 R3
Rn

Eq. 1 Summing Amplifier Output Voltage Formula

Aside from the Summing Amplifier, theres also one kind

of an amplifier that is tackled in this experiment Difference
Amplifier. The Difference Amplifier makes use of the both
inverting and non-inverting inputs. It performs the difference
of the input. Thats why it uses the two mentioned inputs. Fig.
2 below best represents the circuit of a difference amplifier.

Fig.1OpampSummingAmplifierCircuit

Fig.2OpampDifferenceAmplifierCircuit

The circuit has two inputs. One is at the inverting input

and the other is at the non-inverting input of the op-amp.
There are also two Rf or the feedback resistor since there are
two inputs. Furthermore, Equation 2 shows the formula of a
difference amplifiers output voltage.

V out =

[ ][

R f
R
V 1+ 1+ f
R1
R1

Eq. 2 Difference Amplifier Output Voltage Formula

R3
V
R 2+ R 3 2

II. METHODOLOGY
A. The Op-amp Summing Amplifier
For the first part of the experiment, the Fig. 3 is assembled.
The sources +12V is connected to pin 7 and -12V to pin 4 of
the 741 op-amp IC. The voltages of the voltage divider is then
measured. Next, V1 is connected to the terminal B of the
voltage divider on the left and the V2 to terminal C. The
output voltage Vo is then measured. The theoretical value of
the output voltage is computed afterwards. From the terminal
B, the connection of V1 is transferred to terminal A. The
output voltage is measured and the theoretical value of the
output voltage is computed afterwards.

Fig.4SummingAmplifierCircuit

InFig.4,thecircuitisconstructedbyaddingtwosignal
generators output and replacing the voltmeter with the
oscilloscope.Thefirstfunctiongeneratorisadjustedto1kHz
sine wave with an output of 1Vpp. In the other hand, the
signalgeneratorisadjustedto3kHzsinewavewithanoutput
of0.4Vpp.Theinputsignalispositionedontopoftheoutput
signalintheoscilloscope.Theinputandoutputwaveformsare
thendrawn.The1kHzinputsignalischangedtosquarewave
of1Vppamplitude.Theinputandoutputwaveformforthis
change is also drawn. Lastly, a derivation of the output
equationofthenewsetupandtheoutputvoltagebasedonthe
equationisderived.
B. The Op-amp Difference Amplifier
For the second part of the experiment, the Fig. 5 is
assembled. The sources +12V is connected to pin 7 and -12V
to pin 4 of the 741 op-amp IC. The voltages of the voltage
divider is then measured. It is basically the same as the first
part of the experiment. Furthermore, V1 is connected to the
terminal C of the voltage divider on the left and the V2 to
terminal A. The output voltage Vo is then measured. The
theoretical value of the output voltage is computed afterwards.
From the terminal C, the connection of V1 is transferred to
terminal B. The output voltage is measured and the theoretical
value of the output voltage is computed afterwards.

Fig.3TwoInputSummingAmplifier

Moreover, the feedback resistor Rf is replaced by a 20k

ohm resistor. Next, V1 is connected to the terminal B of the
voltage divider on the left and the V2 to terminal C. The
output voltage Vo is then measured. The theoretical value of
the output voltage is computed afterwards. From the terminal
B, the connection of V1 is transferred to terminal A. The
output voltage is measured and the theoretical value of the
output voltage is computed afterwards.

Fig.5DifferenceAmplifierCircuit

Moreover, the both feedback resistors Rf are replaced by

20k ohm resistor. Next, V1 is connected to the terminal B of
the voltage divider on the left and the V2 to terminal C. The

output voltage Vo is then measured. The theoretical value of

the output voltage is computed afterwards. From the terminal
B, the connection of V1 is transferred to terminal A. The
output voltage is measured and the theoretical value of the
output voltage is computed afterwards. All data for the
experiments are tabulated after everything has been measured
and tested. Lastly,aderivationoftheoutputequationofthe
newsetupandtheoutputvoltagebasedontheequationis
derived.

a.

VA= .839 V

A. The Op-amp Summing Amplifier

Table1OpAmpSummingAmplifierData

Inputs
V1
B
A

V2
C
C

Output
Vo (Rf=10K)
Vo (Rf=20K)
-4.436 V
-8.25 V
-4.154 V
-6.72 V

Table 1 shows the measured values of the input and

outputvoltagefortheOpampSummingAmplifierina10k
ohmfeedbackresistoranda20kohmfeedbackresistor.Itis
observedthatthevaluesofthevoltageoutputschangedwhen
thefeedbackresistorisreplacedbya20kohmfroma10k
ohmfeedbackresistorlikethatofthefirstVo(4.436V)when
thevalueofthefeedbackresistorwentto20kohms,itresulted
to 8.25Vlesserthanthepreviousvaluetakenwhenthe
feedbackresistorisin10kohms.
B. TheOpampDifferenceAmplifier
Table2OpAmpDifferenceAmplifierData

Inputs
V1
C
C

V2
A
B

Output
Vo (Rf=10K)
Vo (Rf=20K)
-1.88 V
-4.40 V
-1.14 V
-4.15 V

Table2showsthemeasuredvaluesoftheinputandoutput
voltagefortheOpampDifferenceAmplifierina10kohm
feedback resistor and a 20k ohm feedback resistor. It is
observedthatthevaluesofthevoltageoutputschangedwhen
thefeedbackresistorisreplacedbya20kohmfroma10k
ohmfeedbackresistorlikethatofthefirstVo(1.88V)when
thevalueofthefeedbackresistorwentto20kohms,itresulted
to 4.40Vlesserthanthepreviousvaluetakenwhenthe
feedbackresistorisin10kohms.
ComparingTables1and2,itisshownthatthevaluesof
Table1voltageoutputsisgreaterthanthevoltageoutputsin
Table2.
IV. DATA COMPARISON
A. The Op-amp Summing Amplifier

VB= 1 .697 V

VC= 2.653 V

It is observed that the values of the three voltages

in the voltage divider differ to one another. This is
due to the different values of the resistors in the
voltage divider.

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Tables1and2representthemeasuredvaluesoftheinput
and output voltage obtained during the experiment. These
valuesarebeingcomparedanddiscussedbelow.

Below is the measured voltages of the voltage divider

in an Op-amp Summing Amplifier.

b.

From the measured value of the output voltage with

the feedback resistor of 10k ohm, below is the
solution in obtaining the theoretical values of the
output voltage.
b.1 Solution for the output voltage when the two
input values are: VB= 1 .697 V and VC= 2.653 V.

V o=[ V 1 +V 2 ]
V o=

Rf
R
V 1)+ f (V 2 )
(
Ri
Ri

V o=

10 k
10 k
( 1.697 )+
(2.653)
10 k
10 k

V o=4.350V
It is observed that the voltage output is negative.
Comparing from the measured value (-4.436 V)
shown in Table 1 of the previous section, it is
approximately equal to each other with its theoretical
value, -4.350 V. Thus, it denotes a correct measured
value.
b.2 Solution for the output voltage when the two
input values are: VA= .839 V and VC= 2.653 V.

V o=[ V 1 +V 2 ]
V o=

Rf
R
V 1)+ f (V 2 )
(
Ri
Ri

V o=

10 k
10 k
( .839 )+
(2.653)
10 k
10 k

V o=3.492 V
It is observed that the voltage output is negative.
Comparing from the measured value (-4.154 V)

shown in Table 1 of the previous section, it is not

approximately equal to each other yet the value is
somehow close to its theoretical value,
-3.492V denoting a correct measured value still but
issues on the measurement may be the reason for the
difference of values.
c.

It is stated in the methodology that the feedback

resistor 10k ohm is to be replaced by 20k ohm.
Hence, the derivation in getting the theoretical output
voltage is stated below.

V o=

R4
R3

( )(
( )(
R 3 + R4
R3

V o=

( 10 k10+20k k )( 10 k20+20k k ) ( 2.653 ) 2010 kk ( .839)

It is observed that the voltage output is negative.

Hence, the value is in negative. Comparing from the
measured value (-6.72 V) shown in Table 1 of the
previous section, it is not equal to each other with its
theoretical value, 3.268 V. Thus, it denotes a
discrepancy in arriving to the measured value. Errors
like this may be due to the measuring device used or
the way it was measured during the experiment.

R 4
(V 1 )
R3

V o 2= 1+

)(

R2
R
V 2 ) 4 (V 1 )
(
R1 + R 2
R3

V o=3.628 V

V o=V o 2+V o 1
V o 1=

R 3 + R4
R3

V o=

R2
(V 2 )
R1 + R 2

)
)(

d.

R2
R4
V 2) (V 1)
R1 + R2
R3

Below is the Input and Output Waveforms of the Opamp Summing Amplifier.

c.1 Solution for the output voltage when the two

input values are: VB= 1.697 V and VC= 2.653 V
using the derived formula of the output voltage
above.

R 3 + R4
R3

)(

R2
R
V 2) 4 (V 1)
(
R1 + R2
R3

V o=

V o=

( 10 k10+20k k )( 10 k20+20k k ) ( 2.653 ) 2010 kk ( 1.697)

V o=1.912 V

Fig.6InputandOutputWaveformsofaSummingAmplifier

Fig.6showstheInputandOutputWaveforms
of a Summing Amplifier based on the experiment.
The input waveform which represents the input
voltageisasinewave.Itisvisuallyrepresentedby
solid line. Moreover, the output waveform which
represents the output voltage is out of phase with
noise.Itresembleslikethatofanegativesinewave.
Itisvisuallyrepresentedbyasolidlineinthegraph
above. The voltage outputs waveform is also
consideredtobeaninvertedformoftheinputvoltage
waveformduetotheconfigurationofthesumming
amplifiercircuit.

It is observed that the voltage output is negative.

Hence, the value is in negative. Comparing from the
measured value (-8.25 V) shown in Table 1 of the
previous section, it is approximately equal to each
other with its theoretical value, 1.912 V. Thus, it
denotes a discrepancy in arriving to the measured
value. Errors like this may be due to the measuring
device used or the way it was measured during the
experiment.
c.2 Solution for the output voltage when the two
input values are: VA= .839 V and VC= 2.653 V using
the derived formula of the output voltage above.

B. The Op-amp Difference Amplifier

a.

From the measured value of the output voltage with

the feedback resistor of 10k ohm, below is the

solution in obtaining the theoretical values of the

output voltage.

V o=

a.1 Solution for the output voltage when the two

input values are: VA= 1 V and VC= 3 V.

V o=2 ( V 1 ) + [ 1+ 2 ]

V o= [ V 2 V 1 ]
V o=

Rf
R
V 2 ) f ( V 1)
(
Ri
Ri

1
(V 2)
2

3
V o=2 ( 3 ) + ( 1 )
2
V o=4.5V
It is observed that the voltage output is negative.
Hence, the value is in negative. Comparing from the
measured value (-4.40 V) shown in Table 1 of the
previous section, it is approximately equal to each
other with its theoretical value, -2 V. Thus, it denotes
a correct measured value.

a.2 Solution for the output voltage when the two

input values are: VB= 1V and VC= 2 V.

V o= [ V 2 V 1 ]

10 k
10 k
( 1 )
( 2)
10 k
10 k

R
R
V o= f ( V 2 ) f ( V 1)
Ri
Ri

b.2 Solution for the output voltage when the two

input values are: VA= 1 V and VC= 2 V using the
derived formula of the output voltage above.

3
V o=2 V 1+ V 2
2
3
V o=2 ( 2 )+ ( 1 )
2

V o=1 V

V o=2.5 V

It is observed that the voltage output is negative

Hence, the value is in negative. Comparing from the
measured value (-1.14 V) shown in Table 1 of the
previous section, it is approximately equal to each
other with its theoretical value, -1 V. Thus, it denotes
a correct measured value.

It is observed that the voltage output is negative.

Hence, the value is in negative. Comparing from the
measured value (-4.15 V) shown in Table 1 of the
previous section, it is not equal to each other with its
theoretical value, -2.5 V. Thus, it denotes a
discrepancy in arriving to the measured value. Errors
like this may be due to the measuring device used or
the way it was measured during the experiment.

It is stated in the methodology that the feedback

resistor 10k ohm is to be replaced by 20k ohm.
Hence, the derivation in getting the theoretical
output voltage is stated below.

V o=

[]

3
V o=2 V 1+ V 2
2

It is observed that the voltage output is negative.

Hence, the value is in negative. Comparing from the
measured value (-1.88 V) shown in Table 1 of the
previous section, it is approximately equal to each
other with its theoretical value, -2 V. Thus, it denotes
a correct measured value.

b.

10 k
(V 2)
10 k +10 k

b.1 Solution for the output voltage when the two

input values are: VA= 1 V and VC= 3 V using the
derived formula of the output voltage above.

V o=2 V

V o=

][

3
V o=2 V 1+ V 2
2

10 k
10 k
V o=
( 1 )
( 3)
10 k
10 k

20 k
20 k
V 1 ) + 1+
(
10 k
10 k

[ ][

Rf
R
V 1 ) + 1+ f
(
Ri
Ri

R3
(V 2)
R 2+ R 3

c.

Below is the Input and Output Waveforms of the Opamp Difference Amplifier.

IV. CONCLUSION

Fig.7InputandOutputWaveformsofaSummingAmplifier

Fig.7showstheInputandOutputWaveforms
ofaDifferenceAmplifierbasedontheexperiment.
The input waveform which represents the input
voltageisasquarewave.Itisvisuallyrepresentedby
asolidline.Moreover,theoutputwaveformwhich
represents the output voltage is out of phase with
noise. It resembles like that of a negative square
wave.Itisalsovisuallyrepresentedbyasolidlinein
thegraphabove.Thevoltageoutputswaveformis
alsoconsideredtobeaninvertedformoftheinput
voltage waveform due to the configuration of the
differenceamplifiercircuit.

Therefore, adding more resistors to the input terminal

makes another operational amplifier circuit called a Summing
Amplifier. It is usually constructed in an inverting amplifier
circuit configuration with multiple input voltages applied to its
input terminal. Moreover, its voltage output can be described as
an inverted, scaled sum of the voltages applied to the voltage
input itself. Furthermore, the input voltages doesnt limit to two
or three input voltages or input resistors. It can be increased
depending on the specified application.
On the other hand, another kind of an amplifier is the
Difference Amplifier. The Difference Amplifier uses both the
inverting and non-inverting inputs. It performs the difference of
the input. Moreover, the output equation for this kind of
amplifier is obtained by Superposition theorem considering
the effect of the inverting input source and the non-inverting
input source.
REFERENCES
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http://www.electronicstutorials.ws/opamp/opamp_4.html
http://www.slideshare.net/100002127250615/summinganddifference
amplifier
http://masteringelectronicsdesign.com/asumminganddifferential
amplifierwithoneopamp/
https://terpconnect.umd.edu/~toh/ElectroSim/Subtractor.html
http://www.solidfluid.co.uk/sfsite.php/00000321