Advanced filtering criteria in Excel - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

This table shows people with their names, ages, and cities.

Cell	Value
A1	Name
B1	Age
C1	City
A2	Alice
B2	30
C2	New York
A3	Bob
B3	25
C3	Los Angeles
A4	Charlie
B4	35
C4	New York
A5	Diana
B5	28
C5	Chicago
A6	Ethan
B6	40
C6	New York

Formula Trace

=FILTER(A2:C6, (B2:B6>28)*(C2:C6="New York"))

Step 1: B2:B6>28

Step 2: C2:C6="New York"

Step 3: (B2:B6>28)*(C2:C6="New York")

Step 4: FILTER(A2:C6, [1,0,1,0,0])

Cell Reference Map

    A       B          C
1 |Name | Age | City     |
2 |Alice| 30  | New York |
3 |Bob  | 25  | Los Angeles|
4 |Charlie|35 | New York |
5 |Diana| 28  | Chicago  |
6 |Ethan| 40  | New York |

References:
- B2:B6 for Age
- C2:C6 for City
- A2:C6 for full data to filter

The formula uses ages in B2:B6 and cities in C2:C6 to filter the full data range A2:C6.

Result

    A       B     C
1 |Name | Age | City     |
2 |Alice| 30  | New York |
3 |Charlie|35 | New York |

The filtered result shows only people older than 28 who live in New York.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What does the expression B2:B6>28 return?

A [FALSE, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE]

B [TRUE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE, TRUE]

C [30, 25, 35, 28, 40]

D [1, 0, 1, 0, 1]

Key Result

FILTER(data_range, (condition1)*(condition2)) filters rows where both conditions are true.

Practice

1.

What does having multiple rows in an advanced filter criteria range represent?

easy

A. Each row represents an OR condition between the rows

B. Each row represents an AND condition between the rows

C. Each row is ignored except the first one

D. Each row duplicates the filter results

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand criteria range rows

   In advanced filtering, each row in the criteria range is treated as a separate condition set.

2. Step 2: Identify logical relationship between rows

   Multiple rows mean the filter will include rows matching any one of the criteria rows, which is an OR logic.

3. Final Answer:

   Each row represents an OR condition between the rows -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Multiple rows = OR logic [OK]

Hint: Multiple criteria rows mean OR conditions between them [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking multiple rows mean AND conditions
• Assuming only the first row is used
• Believing rows duplicate results

2.

Which of the following is the correct way to specify a criteria for filtering values greater than 100 in a column named Sales?

easy

A. =Sales>100 under the Sales header

B. >100 under the Sales header in the criteria range

C. Sales>100 in any cell of the criteria range

D. Sales>100 under the Sales header

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand criteria syntax for filtering

   In advanced filter criteria, you write the condition directly under the column header, e.g., >100 for values greater than 100.

2. Step 2: Identify correct syntax for 'greater than'

   The correct way is to put >100 under the Sales header, not including the column name or equals sign.

3. Final Answer:

   >100 under the Sales header in the criteria range -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use operator and value only under header [OK]

Hint: Put only operator and value under header, no column name [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including column name in criteria cell
• Using equals sign (=) before condition
• Writing condition outside the criteria range

3.

Given this criteria range for filtering a table with columns Region and Sales:

Region | Sales
East   | >500
West   | <=300

Which rows will be included in the filtered results?

medium

A. Rows where Region is East OR Sales > 500 AND Region is West OR Sales <= 300

B. Rows where Region is East OR Sales > 500 OR Region is West OR Sales <= 300

C. Rows where Region is East AND Sales > 500 OR Region is West AND Sales <= 300

D. Rows where Region is East AND Sales > 500 AND Region is West AND Sales <= 300

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze each criteria row as AND conditions

   Each row combines conditions with AND, so first row means Region=East AND Sales>500.

2. Step 2: Combine rows with OR logic

   Multiple rows mean OR between them, so second row means Region=West AND Sales<=300.

3. Final Answer:

   Rows where Region is East AND Sales > 500 OR Region is West AND Sales <= 300 -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Rows = (East AND >500) OR (West AND <=300) [OK]

Hint: Rows combine AND; multiple rows combine OR [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mixing AND and OR incorrectly between rows
• Assuming all conditions apply together
• Ignoring operator precedence in criteria

4.

You set up this criteria range to filter a list with columns Product and Price:

Product | Price
Apple   | >50
Apple   | <=30

But the filter returns no results. What is the likely problem?

medium

A. The criteria rows are combined with OR, so no product can be both >50 and <=30 at once

B. The criteria rows are combined with AND, so no product can be both >50 and <=30 at once

C. The criteria range headers are incorrect

D. The filter only works with numeric columns

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand criteria row logic

   Each row is a separate OR condition, so filter includes rows matching any row.

2. Step 2: Analyze the criteria rows

   Both rows specify Product=Apple but with conflicting Price conditions (>50 OR <=30).

3. Step 3: Why no results?

   If no Apple products have Price >50 or <=30, or data is inconsistent, no rows match.

4. Final Answer:

   The criteria rows are combined with OR, so no product can be both >50 and <=30 at once -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Multiple rows = OR, conflicting conditions cause no match [OK]

Hint: Multiple rows mean OR; conflicting conditions may exclude all [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking rows combine with AND
• Ignoring header names
• Assuming filter only works on numbers

5.

You want to filter a list with columns Category, Quantity, and Status to show rows where:

• Category is "Fruit" and Quantity > 10
• OR Status is "Available" and Quantity <= 5

How should you set up the criteria range?

hard

A. Category | Quantity | Status
Fruit | >10 |
Fruit | <=5 | Available

B. Category | Quantity | Status
Fruit | >10 |
| | Available
| <=5 |

C. Category | Quantity | Status
Fruit | >10 | Available
| <=5 |

D. Category | Quantity | Status
Fruit | >10 |
| <=5 | Available

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand AND and OR in criteria range

   Conditions in the same row combine with AND; multiple rows combine with OR.

2. Step 2: Set first row for Category=Fruit AND Quantity>10

   Put "Fruit" under Category and ">10" under Quantity in first row.

3. Step 3: Set second row for Status=Available AND Quantity<=5

   Put "Available" under Status and "<=5" under Quantity in second row; leave Category blank.

4. Final Answer:

   Category | Quantity | Status Fruit | >10 | | <=5 | Available -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Same row = AND; different rows = OR [OK]

Hint: Same row conditions AND; different rows OR [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Putting all conditions in one row (AND all)
• Misplacing values under wrong headers
• Leaving required cells blank incorrectly