HLOOKUP function in Excel - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

📊 Formula Result

intermediate

What is the output of this HLOOKUP formula?

Given the table below in cells A1:D3:

A1: Year | B1: 2020 | C1: 2021 | D1: 2022
A2: Sales | B2: 100 | C2: 150 | D2: 200
A3: Profit | B3: 20 | C3: 30 | D3: 40

What is the result of the formula =HLOOKUP(2021, A1:D3, 3, FALSE)?

A 150

B 30

C 40

D 20

💡 Hint

Remember, HLOOKUP searches the first row and returns value from the specified row number.

The formula looks for 2021 in the first row (B1:D1). It finds it in C1. Then it returns the value from the 3rd row in the same column, which is C3 = 30.

❓ Function Choice

intermediate

Which formula correctly returns the profit for year 2022?

Using the same table as above, which formula will return the profit value for 2022?

A =INDEX(A1:D3, 3, MATCH(2022, A1:D1, 0))

B =VLOOKUP(2022, A1:D3, 3, FALSE)

C =HLOOKUP(2022, A1:D3, 3, FALSE)

D =HLOOKUP(2022, A1:D3, 2, FALSE)

💡 Hint

HLOOKUP searches horizontally in the first row and returns value from the specified row.

Option C correctly uses HLOOKUP to find 2022 in the first row and returns the 3rd row value (Profit). Option C uses VLOOKUP which searches vertically and won't work here. Option C returns Sales (2nd row). Option C is correct but uses INDEX/MATCH, not HLOOKUP.

📊 Formula Result

advanced

What is the output of this HLOOKUP with approximate match?

Given the table:

A1: Score | B1: 0 | C1: 50 | D1: 75 | E1: 90
A2: Grade | B2: F | C2: C | D2: B | E2: A

What is the result of =HLOOKUP(80, A1:E2, 2, TRUE)?

A F

B C

C A

D B

💡 Hint

With approximate match TRUE, HLOOKUP finds the largest value less than or equal to lookup value.

80 is between 75 and 90. HLOOKUP with TRUE finds 75 (D1) as the largest value less than or equal to 80, then returns D2 which is 'B'.

🎯 Scenario

advanced

You want to find a value but get #N/A error. What is the likely cause?

You use the formula =HLOOKUP(2023, A1:D3, 2, FALSE) on the table:

A1: Year | B1: 2020 | C1: 2021 | D1: 2022
A2: Sales | B2: 100 | C2: 150 | D2: 200
A3: Profit | B3: 20 | C3: 30 | D3: 40

But the formula returns #N/A. Why?

A The lookup value 2023 is not found in the first row.

B The row index 2 is invalid for the table.

C The range A1:D3 is missing headers.

D The formula needs TRUE instead of FALSE for exact match.

💡 Hint

Check if the lookup value exists in the first row when using exact match.

Since 2023 is not in the first row, and exact match (FALSE) is used, HLOOKUP returns #N/A because it cannot find the value.

❓ data_analysis

expert

How many items does this HLOOKUP formula return when used in an array formula?

Given the table:

A1: Month | B1: Jan | C1: Feb | D1: Mar
A2: Sales | B2: 100 | C2: 120 | D2: 130
A3: Profit | B3: 20 | C3: 25 | D3: 30

What is the result of the array formula =HLOOKUP({"Jan","Mar"}, A1:D3, 3, FALSE) entered with Ctrl+Shift+Enter in Excel?

A An array with two values: {20, 30}

B A single value: 20

C An error because HLOOKUP does not support arrays

D An array with three values: {20, 25, 30}

💡 Hint

HLOOKUP can return multiple values when given an array of lookup values.

The formula looks up 'Jan' and 'Mar' in the first row and returns the 3rd row values for each: 20 and 30 respectively, producing an array {20, 30}.

Practice

1. What does the HLOOKUP function do in Excel?

easy

A. It adds all numbers in a horizontal range.

B. It searches for a value in the first column and returns a value from a specified column to the right.

C. It searches for a value in the top row and returns a value from a specified row below.

D. It sorts data horizontally in ascending order.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the function purpose

   The HLOOKUP function looks horizontally in the top row of a table to find a match.

2. Step 2: Identify the return value

   Once it finds the match, it returns a value from a specified row below that top row.

3. Final Answer:

   It searches for a value in the top row and returns a value from a specified row below. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   HLOOKUP = horizontal lookup [OK]

Hint: HLOOKUP looks horizontally in the top row for a match [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing HLOOKUP with VLOOKUP which searches vertically
• Thinking it sums values instead of looking up
• Assuming it sorts data

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax for the HLOOKUP function?

easy

A. HLOOKUP(lookup_value, row_index_num, table_array, [range_lookup])

B. HLOOKUP(table_array, lookup_value, row_index_num, [range_lookup])

C. HLOOKUP(row_index_num, lookup_value, table_array, [range_lookup])

D. HLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, [range_lookup])

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the function parameter order

   The correct order is: lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, and optional range_lookup.

2. Step 2: Match with options

   HLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, [range_lookup]) matches this order exactly.

3. Final Answer:

   HLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, [range_lookup]) -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Syntax order matters in HLOOKUP [OK]

Hint: Remember: lookup_value first, then table, then row number [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping lookup_value and table_array
• Putting row_index_num before table_array
• Omitting required parameters

3. Given the table below in cells A1:D3:

	Jan	Feb	Mar
Sales	100	150	200
Profit	30	50	70

What is the result of =HLOOKUP("Feb", A1:D3, 3, FALSE)?

medium

A. 70

B. 150

C. 50

D. Error

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate "Feb" in the top row

   "Feb" is found in cell C1, which is the third column.

2. Step 2: Return value from row 3 in that column

   Row 3, column C contains 70 (Profit for Feb).

3. Final Answer:

   70 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   HLOOKUP finds Feb then returns row 3 value 70 [OK]

Hint: Match top row, then pick value from given row number [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Returning value from wrong row (e.g., row 2 instead of 3)
• Confusing columns and rows
• Using approximate match instead of exact

4. You wrote the formula =HLOOKUP("Q2", A1:D3, 2) but it returns incorrect data. What is the likely problem?

medium

A. You forgot to set the fourth argument to FALSE for exact match.

B. The lookup_value "Q2" is not in the top row of the table.

C. The row_index_num is too high and exceeds the table rows.

D. The table_array is missing dollar signs ($) for absolute reference.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check if lookup_value exists in top row

   If "Q2" is not found in the top row, HLOOKUP cannot find a match.

2. Step 2: Understand impact of missing lookup_value

   Without the value, the function returns wrong or #N/A error regardless of other parameters.

3. Final Answer:

   The lookup_value "Q2" is not in the top row of the table. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Lookup value must be in top row [OK]

Hint: Ensure lookup_value is exactly in the top row [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming approximate match works without FALSE
• Using wrong row_index_num
• Thinking absolute references fix lookup errors

5. You have a table with months in the top row (A1:D1) and sales data in rows below. You want to find the sales for "Mar" but the months are not sorted alphabetically. Which formula will always return the exact sales value for "Mar"?

hard

A. =HLOOKUP("Mar", A1:D3, 2, FALSE)

B. =HLOOKUP("Mar", A1:D3, 2)

C. =HLOOKUP("Mar", A1:D3, 3)

D. =HLOOKUP("Mar", A1:D3, 2, TRUE)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the range_lookup argument

   TRUE or omitted means approximate match, which requires sorted top row.

2. Step 2: Choose exact match for unsorted data

   FALSE forces exact match, so it works even if months are not sorted.

3. Step 3: Verify row_index_num

   Row 2 contains sales data, so row_index_num should be 2.

4. Final Answer:

   =HLOOKUP("Mar", A1:D3, 2, FALSE) -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Use FALSE for exact match with unsorted data [OK]

Hint: Use FALSE for exact match when data is unsorted [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting FALSE and getting wrong approximate results
• Using wrong row_index_num
• Assuming TRUE works for unsorted data