HLOOKUP function in Google Sheets - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the formula to look up the value in cell A2 in the first row of the table in range B1:D3.

Google Sheets

=HLOOKUP([1], B1:D3, 2, FALSE)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ATRUE

BB2

C1

DA2

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a cell outside the lookup range.

Using a number instead of a cell reference.

The first argument of HLOOKUP is the value to find. Here, it should be the value in cell A2.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the formula to return the value from the third row of the table in range A1:C3 for the lookup value in cell B1.

Google Sheets

=HLOOKUP(B1, A1:C3, [1], FALSE)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A3

B2

C1

D4

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a row number outside the table range.

Confusing row and column numbers.

The third argument is the row index from which to return the value. To get the third row, use 3.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the formula to correctly find the value in the first row of range A1:D2 for the lookup value in cell C1.

Google Sheets

=HLOOKUP(C1, A1:D2, [1], TRUE)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A1

B3

C2

D0

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 0 as the row index causes an error.

Using a row index greater than the number of rows in the range.

The row index must be at least 1. Using 1 returns values from the first row.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a formula that looks up the value in cell A1 in the first row of range B1:E3 and returns the value from the second row, using exact match.

Google Sheets

=HLOOKUP([1], B1:E3, [2], FALSE)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AA1

BB1

C2

D3

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a wrong cell reference for lookup value.

Using a row index outside the table range.

The first blank is the lookup value cell A1. The second blank is the row index 2 to get the second row's value.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a formula that looks up the value in cell B2 in the first row of range A1:D4, returns the value from the fourth row, and uses approximate match.

Google Sheets

=HLOOKUP([1], A1:D4, [2], [3])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AB2

B4

CTRUE

DFALSE

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using FALSE instead of TRUE for approximate match.

Using a wrong row index.

The lookup value is B2, the row index is 4 to get the fourth row, and TRUE means approximate match.

Practice

1. What does the HLOOKUP function do in Google Sheets?

easy

A. Searches for a value in the first column and returns a value from a specified column to the right

B. Searches for a value in the top row and returns a value from a specified row below

C. Adds all numbers in a horizontal range

D. Sorts data horizontally in ascending order

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand HLOOKUP's search direction

   HLOOKUP searches horizontally in the top row of a range, not vertically.

2. Step 2: Understand the return value

   It returns a value from a specified row below the found column, matching the search value.

3. Final Answer:

   Searches for a value in the top row and returns a value from a specified row below -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   HLOOKUP = horizontal search and return [OK]

Hint: HLOOKUP looks across the top row, not down a column [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing HLOOKUP with VLOOKUP
• Thinking it searches vertically
• Assuming it sums values

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax for the HLOOKUP function?

easy

A. HLOOKUP(search_key, range, row_index, [is_sorted])

B. HLOOKUP(range, search_key, row_index, [is_sorted])

C. HLOOKUP(search_key, row_index, range, [is_sorted])

D. HLOOKUP(row_index, search_key, range, [is_sorted])

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall HLOOKUP syntax order

   The correct order is search_key first, then range, then row_index, and optional is_sorted last.

2. Step 2: Match options to syntax

   HLOOKUP(search_key, range, row_index, [is_sorted]) matches this order exactly, others mix parameters incorrectly.

3. Final Answer:

   HLOOKUP(search_key, range, row_index, [is_sorted]) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Syntax order = search_key, range, row_index, is_sorted [OK]

Hint: Remember: search_key, range, row_index, then is_sorted [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping range and search_key positions
• Putting row_index before range
• Omitting optional is_sorted parameter

3. Given the table below in cells A1:D3:

| A   | B    | C    | D    |
|-----|------|------|------|
| ID  | 101  | 102  | 103  |
| Name| John | Mary | Alex |
| Age | 25   | 30   | 22   |

What is the result of =HLOOKUP(102, A1:D3, 3, FALSE)?

medium

A. 22

B. Mary

C. 30

D. 102

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate search_key 102 in top row

   Top row is A1:D1: ID, 101, 102, 103. The value 102 is found in cell C1 (3rd column).

2. Step 2: Return value from row 3 in the same column

   Row 3 is A3:D3: Age, 25, 30, 22. The 3rd column value is 30.

3. Final Answer:

   30 -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   HLOOKUP finds 102, returns 30 [OK]

Hint: Find value in top row, then pick from given row below [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Returning value from wrong row
• Confusing columns and rows
• Using approximate match instead of exact

4. You wrote the formula =HLOOKUP(105, A1:D3, 2, FALSE) but it returns #N/A. What is the likely cause?

medium

A. Row index 2 is invalid

B. You used TRUE instead of FALSE for exact match

C. Range A1:D3 is empty

D. 105 is not found exactly in the top row

Solution

1. Step 1: Check if 105 exists in top row

   Since 105 is not present in the top row of A1:D1, exact match fails.

2. Step 2: Understand #N/A error meaning

   #N/A means the lookup value was not found when exact match (FALSE) is used.

3. Final Answer:

   105 is not found exactly in the top row -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   #N/A means no exact match found [OK]

Hint: Exact match needs value present in top row [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming approximate match works with FALSE
• Using wrong row index
• Ignoring #N/A meaning

5. You have this table in A1:E3:

| A    | B     | C     | D     | E     |
|------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| Code | A101  | A102  | A103  | A104  |
| Qty  | 10    | 15    | 20    | 25    |
| Price| 5.00  | 7.50  | 6.00  | 8.00  |

You want to find the price of code A103 using HLOOKUP. Which formula correctly returns the price?

hard

A. =HLOOKUP("A103", A1:E3, 3, FALSE)

B. =HLOOKUP("A103", A1:E3, 2, FALSE)

C. =HLOOKUP("A103", A1:E3, 4, FALSE)

D. =HLOOKUP("A103", A2:E3, 3, FALSE)

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the row number for Price

   Price is in row 3 of the range A1:E3.

2. Step 2: Use HLOOKUP with correct row index and exact match

   Formula should search for "A103" in top row and return value from row 3, with FALSE for exact match.

3. Final Answer:

   =HLOOKUP("A103", A1:E3, 3, FALSE) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Price is row 3, use row_index=3 [OK]

Hint: Match code in top row, return price from 3rd row [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong row index for price
• Using incomplete range missing header row
• Confusing quantity row with price row