INDEX and MATCH combination in Google Sheets - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ query_result

intermediate

Find the price of a product using INDEX and MATCH

You have a table with product names in column A and their prices in column B. Which formula correctly returns the price of the product named "Apple"?

Google Sheets

A1:A5 = {"Banana", "Apple", "Orange", "Grape", "Mango"}
B1:B5 = {1.2, 2.5, 1.8, 3.0, 2.0}

A =INDEX(B1:B5, MATCH("Apple", B1:B5, 0))

B =MATCH("Apple", B1:B5, 0)

C =INDEX(A1:A5, MATCH(2.5, B1:B5, 0))

D =INDEX(B1:B5, MATCH("Apple", A1:A5, 0))

💡 Hint

Use MATCH to find the row number of "Apple" in the product list, then INDEX to get the price from the price list.

Option D correctly uses MATCH to find the position of "Apple" in A1:A5, then INDEX returns the price from B1:B5 at that position. Other options either mismatch ranges or use MATCH incorrectly.

❓ query_result

intermediate

Retrieve employee department using INDEX and MATCH

Given a list of employees in column A and their departments in column B, which formula returns the department of "John"?

Google Sheets

A1:A4 = {"Anna", "John", "Mike", "Sara"}
B1:B4 = {"HR", "Finance", "IT", "Marketing"}

A =INDEX(B1:B4, MATCH("John", A1:A4, 0))

B =MATCH("John", B1:B4, 0)

C =INDEX(A1:A4, MATCH("Finance", B1:B4, 0))

D =INDEX(B1:B4, MATCH("John", B1:B4, 0))

💡 Hint

Find the row of "John" in the employee list, then get the department from the department list.

Option A correctly finds "John" in A1:A4 and returns the corresponding department from B1:B4. Other options misuse MATCH or INDEX ranges.

🔧 Formula Fix

advanced

Identify the syntax error in INDEX and MATCH formula

Which option contains a syntax error in the formula to find the price of "Orange"?

Google Sheets

A1:A5 = {"Banana", "Apple", "Orange", "Grape", "Mango"}
B1:B5 = {1.2, 2.5, 1.8, 3.0, 2.0}

A =INDEX(B1:B5, MATCH("Orange", A1:A5, 0))

B =INDEX(B1:B5 MATCH("Orange", A1:A5, 0))

C =INDEX(B1:B5, MATCH("Orange", A1:A5))

D ))0 ,5A:1A ,"egnarO"(HCTAM ,5B:1B(XEDNI=

💡 Hint

Check for missing commas or parentheses in the formula.

Option B is missing a comma between B1:B5 and MATCH function, causing a syntax error. Other options have correct syntax.

❓ optimization

advanced

Optimize formula to avoid volatile functions

You want to find the department of "Sara" without using volatile functions. Which formula is the best choice?

Google Sheets

A1:A4 = {"Anna", "John", "Mike", "Sara"}
B1:B4 = {"HR", "Finance", "IT", "Marketing"}

A =INDEX(B1:B4, MATCH("Sara", A1:A4, 0))

B =VLOOKUP("Sara", A1:B4, 2, FALSE)

C =INDEX(B1:B4, MATCH("Sara", A1:A4))

D =FILTER(B1:B4, A1:A4="Sara")

💡 Hint

Consider which functions are volatile and which are not.

Option A uses INDEX and MATCH which are non-volatile and efficient. VLOOKUP and FILTER are volatile or less efficient. MATCH without 0 is approximate match.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Understanding behavior of INDEX and MATCH with multiple matches

Given the data below, what will the formula =INDEX(B1:B6, MATCH("Apple", A1:A6, 0)) return?

Data:

A1:A6 = {"Banana", "Apple", "Orange", "Apple", "Grape", "Apple"}

B1:B6 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

A 6

B 4

C 2

D #N/A error

💡 Hint

MATCH returns the position of the first exact match it finds.

MATCH("Apple", A1:A6, 0) returns 2, the position of the first "Apple". INDEX then returns B2 which is 2. It does not return later matches.

Practice

1. What does the INDEX function do in Google Sheets when combined with MATCH?

easy

A. Deletes duplicate values from a range

B. Finds the position of a value in a range

C. Sorts the data in ascending order

D. Returns the value at a specific position in a range

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of INDEX

   The INDEX function returns the value located at a specific row and column in a given range.

2. Step 2: Understand the role of MATCH

   The MATCH function finds the position (row or column number) of a specific value within a range.

3. Final Answer:

   Returns the value at a specific position in a range -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   INDEX returns value, MATCH finds position [OK]

Hint: INDEX gives value; MATCH gives position [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing INDEX with MATCH roles
• Thinking INDEX sorts data
• Assuming MATCH returns values

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to use INDEX and MATCH together to find a value in column B based on a lookup value in column A?

easy

A. =INDEX(A1:A10, MATCH(B1:B10, "Apple", 0))

B. =MATCH(B1:B10, INDEX("Apple", A1:A10, 0))

C. =INDEX(B1:B10, MATCH("Apple", A1:A10, 0))

D. =MATCH("Apple", B1:B10, INDEX(A1:A10, 0))

Solution

1. Step 1: Check INDEX syntax

   INDEX(range, row_number) returns value at row_number in range.

2. Step 2: Check MATCH syntax

   MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_range, 0) finds exact position of lookup_value in lookup_range.

3. Step 3: Combine correctly

   Use MATCH to find row in A1:A10, then INDEX to get value from B1:B10 at that row.

4. Final Answer:

   =INDEX(B1:B10, MATCH("Apple", A1:A10, 0)) -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   INDEX(B, MATCH(value, A)) correct syntax [OK]

Hint: MATCH finds row, INDEX returns value at that row [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping INDEX and MATCH arguments
• Using MATCH on wrong range
• Incorrect order of parameters

3. Given the data:
A1:A4 = {"Cat", "Dog", "Bird", "Fish"}
B1:B4 = {5, 3, 8, 2}
What is the result of =INDEX(B1:B4, MATCH("Bird", A1:A4, 0))?

medium

A. 3

B. 8

C. 2

D. 5

Solution

1. Step 1: Find position of "Bird" in A1:A4 using MATCH

   "Bird" is at position 3 in A1:A4.

2. Step 2: Use INDEX to get value at position 3 in B1:B4

   Value at B3 is 8.

3. Final Answer:

   8 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   INDEX(B, MATCH("Bird", A)) = 8 [OK]

Hint: MATCH finds row 3, INDEX returns B3 = 8 [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing row numbers
• Using wrong ranges
• Assuming MATCH returns value

4. You wrote the formula =INDEX(B1:B5, MATCH("Orange", A1:A5, 0)) but it returns an error. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The value "Orange" is not found in A1:A5

B. The ranges B1:B5 and A1:A5 have different sizes

C. INDEX cannot be combined with MATCH

D. MATCH requires a third argument of 1 or -1

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand MATCH error

   MATCH returns #N/A error if lookup value is not found in the range.

2. Step 2: Check if "Orange" exists in A1:A5

   If "Orange" is missing, MATCH fails and INDEX cannot get a valid row.

3. Final Answer:

   The value "Orange" is not found in A1:A5 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   MATCH missing value causes error [OK]

Hint: Check if lookup value exists before using MATCH [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming INDEX and MATCH can't combine
• Ignoring #N/A from MATCH
• Wrong MATCH match_type argument

5. You have a table with names in A2:A10 and scores in B2:B10. You want to find the score of the name in D2, but if the name is not found, return "Not Found" instead of an error. Which formula correctly does this?

hard

A. =IFERROR(INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH(D2, A2:A10, 0)), "Not Found")

B. =INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH(D2, A2:A10, 0)) & "Not Found"

C. =IF(ISERROR(MATCH(D2, A2:A10, 0)), "Not Found", INDEX(B2:B10, D2))

D. =MATCH(D2, A2:A10, 0) & INDEX(B2:B10, D2)

Solution

1. Step 1: Use MATCH to find position of D2 in A2:A10

   MATCH(D2, A2:A10, 0) finds exact row of the name.

2. Step 2: Use INDEX to get score from B2:B10 at that position

   INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH(...)) returns the score.

3. Step 3: Use IFERROR to catch errors if name not found

   IFERROR(..., "Not Found") returns "Not Found" instead of error.

4. Final Answer:

   =IFERROR(INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH(D2, A2:A10, 0)), "Not Found") -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   IFERROR wraps INDEX-MATCH to handle missing names [OK]

Hint: Wrap INDEX-MATCH with IFERROR for safe lookup [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Concatenating strings instead of handling errors
• Using ISERROR with repeated MATCH calls
• Incorrect argument order in MATCH