Column transformations in Excel - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

This table shows three people with their ages and scores.

Cell	Value
A1	Name
B1	Age
C1	Score
A2	Alice
B2	23
C2	85
A3	Bob
B3	30
C3	90
A4	Charlie
B4	27
C4	78

Formula Trace

=B2*2

Step 1: B2

Step 2: 23 * 2

Cell Reference Map

    A       B       C
1 | Name  | Age   | Score
2 | Alice |  23   |  85  
3 | Bob   |  30   |  90  
4 | Charlie| 27   |  78  

Formula in D2: =B2*2 (uses B2)

The formula references cell B2 which holds the age value 23.

Result

    A       B       C       D
1 | Name  | Age   | Score | Double Age
2 | Alice |  23   |  85   | 46
3 | Bob   |  30   |  90   | 
4 | Charlie| 27   |  78   | 

The formula in D2 doubles the age from B2 and shows 46.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What value does the formula =B2*2 use from the sheet?

A 46

B 23

C 85

D 30

Key Result

Multiply a column value by a number to transform it (e.g., double the age).