Formula structure and cell references in Google Sheets - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

📊 Formula Result

intermediate

What is the output of this formula with mixed references?

Given the following values:

A1 = 5
B1 = 10

And the formula in C1:

=A1 + $B$1

What will be the value in C2 if the formula from C1 is copied down to C2?

Google Sheets

=A1 + $B$1

A 5

B 10

C 15

D Error

💡 Hint

Remember that $ signs lock the reference when copying formulas.

When copying the formula down, A1 changes to A2 (which is empty or 0), but $B$1 stays fixed at B1 (10). So in C2, the formula is =A2 + $B$1 = 0 + 10 = 10. Since A2 is empty, it counts as 0. So the correct answer is 10.

❓ Function Choice

intermediate

Which formula correctly sums cells A1 to A5 using absolute references?

You want to sum cells A1 to A5 and keep the range fixed when copying the formula to other cells. Which formula should you use?

A =SUM($A$1:$A$5)

B =SUM(A1:A5)

C =SUM($A1:$A5)

D =SUM(A$1:A$5)

💡 Hint

Absolute references use $ before both column and row.

Only =SUM($A$1:$A$5) locks both the column and row references, so the range stays fixed when copying the formula.

📊 Formula Result

advanced

What is the output of this formula with mixed relative and absolute references?

Given the values:

A1=2, B1=3, A2=4, B2=5

Formula in C1:

=A1*$B$1

What is the value in C2 after copying the formula from C1 to C2?

Google Sheets

=A1*$B$1

A 12

B 10

C 6

D Error

💡 Hint

Check how relative and absolute references change when copying formulas.

In C2, the formula becomes =A2*$B$1. A2 is 4, $B$1 is fixed at B1 which is 3. So 4*3=12.

🎯 Scenario

advanced

You want to multiply each value in column A by the value in B1 and copy the formula down. Which formula should you enter in C1?

Column A has numbers in A1 to A5. Cell B1 has a multiplier. You want to write a formula in C1 that multiplies A1 by B1 and then copy it down to C5, so each row multiplies the corresponding A cell by B1. Which formula should you use?

A =A1*B1

B =$A$1*$B$1

C =A1*$B$1

D =$A1*B$1

💡 Hint

Think about which references should stay fixed and which should change when copying down.

To multiply each A cell by the fixed B1, the formula should have A1 relative (changes when copied down) and B1 absolute (fixed). So =A1*$B$1 is correct.

❓ data_analysis

expert

How many cells will contain the value 100 after copying this formula?

You have values in A1:A5 as 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 respectively. In B1 you have 10. You enter the formula =A1*$B$1 in C1 and copy it down to C5.

How many cells in C1:C5 will have the value 100?

Google Sheets

=A1*$B$1

A 2

B 0

C 3

D 1

💡 Hint

Calculate each product and count how many equal 100.

Multiplying each A cell by 10: 10*10=100, 20*10=200, 30*10=300, 40*10=400, 50*10=500. Only C1 equals 100.