Alternating row colors in Google Sheets - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

📊 Formula Result

intermediate

What color will row 5 be with this formula?

You apply this custom formula for alternating row colors in Google Sheets:
=ISEVEN(ROW())
What color will row 5 have if the first color is white and the second color is light gray?

Google Sheets

=ISEVEN(ROW())

A Light gray (second color)

B No color (default)

C White (first color)

D Red (error color)

💡 Hint

Remember that ROW() returns the row number and ISEVEN checks if it is even.

Row 5 is an odd number, so ISEVEN(5) returns FALSE. The formula colors even rows with the second color, so row 5 gets the first color, white.

❓ Function Choice

intermediate

Which formula colors odd rows in alternating colors?

You want to color odd rows with the first color and even rows with the second color using conditional formatting. Which formula should you use?

A =ISEVEN(COLUMN())

B =ISODD(ROW())

C =MOD(ROW(),2)=0

D =ROW()=ODD(ROW())

💡 Hint

Think about which function checks if a number is odd.

ISODD(ROW()) returns TRUE for odd rows, so it colors odd rows with the first color. The other options either check columns or have syntax errors.

🎯 Scenario

advanced

You want to alternate colors every 3 rows. Which formula works?

You want to color rows in groups of 3: first 3 rows one color, next 3 rows another color, then repeat. Which formula should you use in conditional formatting?

A =ISEVEN(INT((ROW()-1)/3))

B =MOD(ROW(),3)=0

C =ISEVEN(MOD(ROW(),3))

D =MOD(INT(ROW()/3),2)=1

💡 Hint

Divide the row number minus 1 by 3, then check if the result is even or odd.

INT((ROW()-1)/3) groups rows in sets of 3 starting at row 1. ISEVEN checks if the group number is even to alternate colors every 3 rows. Other options either check wrong conditions or produce wrong patterns.

📊 Formula Result

advanced

What is the output of this formula for row 10?

Given the formula:
=MOD(ROW()+1,2)=0
What is the result when applied to row 10?

Google Sheets

=MOD(ROW()+1,2)=0

A FALSE

B Error

C TRUE

D Blank

💡 Hint

Calculate ROW()+1 for row 10, then find the remainder when divided by 2.

ROW() for row 10 is 10. 10+1=11. MOD(11,2) is 1, so 1=0 is FALSE. But wait, the formula is =MOD(ROW()+1,2)=0, so for row 10, MOD(11,2)=1, which is not 0, so FALSE. The correct answer is FALSE.

❓ data_analysis

expert

How many rows will be colored with this formula in a 20-row sheet?

You apply this formula for alternating row colors:
=MOD(ROW(),4)<2
How many rows will be colored with the first color in a sheet with 20 rows?

Google Sheets

=MOD(ROW(),4)<2

A 8 rows

B 5 rows

C 12 rows

D 10 rows

💡 Hint

MOD(ROW(),4) cycles through 0,1,2,3. The formula colors rows where this value is less than 2.

MOD(ROW(),4) cycles every 4 rows: values 0,1,2,3. The formula colors rows where the value is 0 or 1 (less than 2). So in every 4 rows, 2 rows are colored. For 20 rows, 20/4=5 cycles, 5*2=10 rows colored.