Arithmetic operators in Google Sheets - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

📊 Formula Result

intermediate

Calculate the result of a formula with mixed operators

What is the result of the formula =5 + 3 * 2 - 4 / 2 in Google Sheets?

Google Sheets

=5 + 3 * 2 - 4 / 2

A 8

B 9

C 11

D 10

💡 Hint

Remember that multiplication and division happen before addition and subtraction.

Multiplication and division are done first: 3*2=6 and 4/2=2. Then addition and subtraction: 5+6=11, 11-2=9.

❓ Function Choice

intermediate

Choose the correct formula to calculate the average of sums

You have numbers in cells A1=4, A2=6, B1=8, B2=2. Which formula correctly calculates the average of the sums of each row?

A =(A1+B1 + A2+B2)/2

B =AVERAGE(A1:B2)

C =SUM(A1:B2)/2

D =AVERAGE(A1+B1, A2+B2)

💡 Hint

You want the average of the sums of each row, not the average of all cells.

Option D sums each row separately and then averages those sums: (4+8) and (6+2), average is (12+8)/2=10.

📊 Formula Result

advanced

Evaluate a formula with parentheses and exponentiation

What is the result of the formula = (2 + 3)^2 / 5 in Google Sheets?

Google Sheets

=(2 + 3)^2 / 5

A 5

B 25

C 10

D 1

💡 Hint

Calculate inside parentheses first, then exponentiation, then division.

Inside parentheses: 2+3=5. Then exponentiation: 5^2=25. Then division: 25/5=5.

🎯 Scenario

advanced

Fix the formula to correctly calculate total cost with tax

You want to calculate the total cost including 8% tax for an item price in cell A1. Which formula correctly calculates this?

A =A1 * 1.08

B =A1 + 8%

C =A1 + A1 * 8

D =A1 * 0.08

💡 Hint

Tax is 8%, so multiply price by 1 plus tax rate as decimal.

Option A multiplies the price by 1.08 (100% + 8%) to get total cost including tax.

❓ data_analysis

expert

Determine the number of items greater than a threshold using arithmetic operators

Given the values in cells A1:A5 as 3, 7, 2, 9, 5, which formula returns the count of numbers greater than 5?

A =COUNTIF(A1:A5, ">5")

B =SUM(A1:A5 > 5)

C =SUMPRODUCT(A1:A5 > 5)

D =COUNT(A1:A5 > 5)

💡 Hint

Use a formula that sums TRUE values as 1 to count items meeting condition.

Option C uses SUMPRODUCT with a condition, counting TRUE as 1, resulting in 2 (7 and 9). Option C also counts correctly but SUMPRODUCT is the advanced method here.

Practice

1. Which arithmetic operator in Google Sheets is used to multiply two numbers?

easy

A. +

B. *

C. /

D. ^

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall basic arithmetic operators

   The multiplication operator in spreadsheets is the asterisk symbol *.

2. Step 2: Match operator to multiplication

   Among the options, only * represents multiplication.

3. Final Answer:

   * -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Multiplication = * [OK]

Hint: Remember * means multiply in formulas [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing + with multiplication
• Using ^ for multiplication
• Using / instead of *

2. Which of the following is the correct formula to add the values in cells A1 and B1 in Google Sheets?

easy

A. =A1+B1

B. A1+B1

C. =SUM(A1 B1)

D. =A1*B1

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand formula syntax

   Formulas must start with an equals sign = to calculate values.

2. Step 2: Identify correct addition syntax

   The correct way to add two cells is =A1+B1. =A1*B1 multiplies instead, A1+B1 misses the equals sign, and =SUM(A1 B1) has wrong syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   =A1+B1 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Formula starts with = and uses + for addition [OK]

Hint: Always start formulas with = and use + for addition [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting = at start
• Using * instead of +
• Wrong SUM syntax without comma

3. What is the result of the formula =10 + 5 * 2 in Google Sheets?

medium

A. 20

B. 15

C. 30

D. 25

Solution

1. Step 1: Apply order of operations

   Multiplication (*) is done before addition (+), so calculate 5 * 2 = 10 first.

2. Step 2: Add the results

   Then add 10 + 10 = 20.

3. Final Answer:

   20 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Multiplication before addition = 20 [OK]

Hint: Multiply before adding in formulas [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding before multiplying
• Ignoring operator precedence
• Calculating left to right only

4. The formula =A1 + * B1 gives an error in Google Sheets. What is the correct fix?

medium

A. =A1 + (B1

B. =A1 * B1

C. =A1 + B1 *

D. =A1 + B1

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify syntax error

   The formula has an invalid operator sequence + * which is not allowed.

2. Step 2: Correct the formula

   Remove the extra operator to get =A1 + B1, which adds the two cells correctly.

3. Final Answer:

   =A1 + B1 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Only one operator between operands [OK]

Hint: Use only one operator between values [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using two operators together
• Leaving trailing operators
• Missing equals sign

5. You want to calculate the total cost in cell C1 by multiplying quantity in A1 by price in B1, then adding a fixed shipping fee of 5. Which formula correctly does this?

hard

A. =A1 * (B1 + 5)

B. A1 * B1 + 5

C. =(A1 * B1) + 5

D. =A1 + B1 * 5

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand calculation order

   You must multiply quantity and price first, then add shipping fee.

2. Step 2: Use parentheses to ensure correct order

   Formula =(A1 * B1) + 5 ensures multiplication happens before addition. A1 * B1 + 5 misses the equals sign; C adds shipping to price before multiplying (wrong); D multiplies price by 5 then adds quantity (wrong).

3. Final Answer:

   =(A1 * B1) + 5 -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Multiply first, then add shipping with parentheses [OK]

Hint: Use parentheses to control calculation order [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding before multiplying
• Wrong operator placement
• Missing parentheses causing wrong results