Paste special options in Google Sheets - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

📊 Formula Result

intermediate

What happens when you use Paste Special > Values only?

You copy a cell with the formula =A1+B1 and then use Paste Special > Values only into another cell. What will the pasted cell contain?

A The formula <code>=A1+B1</code> is pasted and recalculates based on the new location.

B Only the result of the formula is pasted as a static number, no formula remains.

C The cell is pasted with formatting but no formula or value.

D The formula is pasted as text, showing <code>=A1+B1</code> literally.

💡 Hint

Paste Special > Values only copies just the displayed result, not the formula.

Using Paste Special > Values only copies the calculated result as a fixed number, not the formula itself. This means the pasted cell will not change if the original cells change.

❓ Function Choice

intermediate

Which Paste Special option keeps the original cell formatting but pastes only the values?

You want to paste data so that only the values are pasted but the destination cell's formatting stays unchanged. Which Paste Special option should you use?

A Paste Special > Format only

B Paste Special > Values and number formats

C Paste Special > Values only

D Paste Special > Values and source formatting

💡 Hint

Think about which option pastes only the numbers without changing formatting.

Paste Special > Values only pastes just the values and leaves the destination cell's formatting unchanged.

🎯 Scenario

advanced

You want to multiply a range of numbers by 10 using Paste Special. What steps do you take?

You have numbers in cells A1:A5. You want to multiply all these numbers by 10 using Paste Special without writing formulas. Which sequence of actions will achieve this?

A Type 10 in a cell, copy it, select A1:A5, then use Paste Special > Multiply.

B Type 10 in a cell, copy it, select A1:A5, then use Paste Special > Add.

C Type 10 in a cell, copy it, select A1:A5, then use Paste Special > Values only.

D Type 10 in a cell, copy it, select A1:A5, then use Paste Special > Divide.

💡 Hint

Paste Special can perform math operations like multiply on selected cells.

Paste Special > Multiply multiplies the selected cells by the copied number. This is a quick way to scale numbers without formulas.

📊 Formula Result

advanced

What is the result of Paste Special > Transpose on a 2x3 range?

You have data in cells A1:C2 (2 rows, 3 columns). You copy this range and use Paste Special > Transpose into another location. What will be the shape of the pasted data?

A 3 rows and 2 columns (rows and columns swapped)

B 6 rows and 1 column (flattened into one column)

C 1 row and 6 columns (flattened into one row)

D 2 rows and 3 columns (same as original)

💡 Hint

Transpose swaps rows and columns.

Paste Special > Transpose flips the data so rows become columns and columns become rows. A 2x3 range becomes 3x2.

❓ data_analysis

expert

After using Paste Special > Formulas only, what happens if the original referenced cells change?

You copy a cell with formula =SUM(A1:A3) and use Paste Special > Formulas only into another cell. Later, you change values in A1:A3. What happens to the pasted cell?

A The pasted cell converts the formula to text and does not calculate.

B The pasted cell keeps the original calculated value and does not update.

C The pasted cell shows a #REF! error because references are broken.

D The pasted cell updates automatically to reflect changes in A1:A3.

💡 Hint

Formulas keep their references and update when source data changes.

Paste Special > Formulas only pastes the formula itself, so it recalculates when referenced cells change.