Absolute references ($) in Google Sheets - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the formula to keep the reference to cell A1 fixed when copying.

Google Sheets

=SUM([1]+B2)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A$A1

BA1

CA$1

D$A$1

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using relative reference like A1 which changes when copied.

Fixing only row or column but not both.

Using $A$1 locks both the column and row, making the reference absolute.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the formula to fix only the column A when copying across columns.

Google Sheets

=B1*[1]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A$A2

BA2

CA$2

D$A$2

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Fixing both column and row which is too strict.

Not fixing the column, so it changes when copied.

$A2 fixes the column A but allows the row to change when copied down.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the formula to correctly lock the row 5 when copying down.

Google Sheets

=SUM(B[1]:D5)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A5

B$5

C$5$

D5$

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Placing $ after the number which is invalid.

Not using $ so the row changes when copied.

$5 locks the row 5 while allowing the column to change.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a formula that multiplies the fixed cell B1 by cells in column C.

Google Sheets

=C[1]*[2]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A2

B$B$1

CB1

D$C$1

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using relative reference for B1 which changes when copied.

Fixing the wrong cell or row.

The row 2 is relative to multiply with C2, and $B$1 fixes the cell B1.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a formula that sums a fixed range from A1 to C1 and multiplies by the value in D2.

Google Sheets

=SUM([1]:[2])*[3]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A$A$1

B$C$1

CD2

DC2

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Not fixing the sum range cells, so the range changes when copied.

Using wrong multiplier cell.

$A$1 and $C$1 fix the sum range, and D2 is the multiplier.