Mixed references in Google Sheets - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

Column A has numbers, Column B has multipliers. Column C will calculate A times B with mixed references.

Cell	Value
A1	10
A2	20
A3	30
B1	2
B2	3
B3	4
C1
C2
C3

Formula Trace

=A$1*B2

Step 1: A$1 in row 2 refers to A1

Step 2: B2 in row 2 refers to B2

Step 3: Multiply A$1 * B2 = 10 * 3

Cell Reference Map

    A    B    C
1 | 10 |  2 |    |
2 | 20 |  3 | -> |  Formula in C2: =A$1*B2
3 | 30 |  4 |    |

Formula in C2 uses mixed reference A$1 (fixed row 1) and relative B2.

Result

    A    B    C
1 | 10 |  2 |    |
2 | 20 |  3 | 30 |
3 | 30 |  4 |    |

In cell C2, formula =A$1*B2 calculates 10*3 = 30.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

In the formula =A$1*B2 entered in C2, what does A$1 refer to?

A Cell B1 (wrong column)

B Cell A2 (same row)

C Cell A1 (fixed row 1)

D Cell B2 (wrong column)

Key Result

Mixed references fix either row or column with $ to keep part of the reference constant when copied.