INDEX and MATCH combination in Google Sheets - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the formula to find the value in the first column of the range A2:B6 that matches the lookup value in D2.

Google Sheets

=INDEX(A2:A6, MATCH([1], B2:B6, 0))

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

AC2

BD2

CB2

DA2

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong cell reference for the lookup value.

Confusing the ranges in INDEX and MATCH.

The MATCH function looks for the value in cell D2 within the range B2:B6. INDEX then returns the value from A2:A6 at the position MATCH finds.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the formula to find the price of the item named in cell E3 from the table in A2:B6.

Google Sheets

=INDEX(B2:B6, MATCH([1], A2:A6, 0))

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

AE3

BB3

CA3

DC3

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Swapping the ranges in INDEX and MATCH.

Using the wrong cell reference for the lookup value.

MATCH finds the position of the item name in E3 within the list A2:A6. INDEX returns the price from B2:B6 at that position.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the formula to correctly find the quantity of the product in cell F4 from the table in A2:C6.

Google Sheets

=INDEX(C2:C6, MATCH([1], A2:A6, 0))

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

AA4

BC4

CF4

DB4

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a wrong cell reference for the lookup value.

Mixing up the ranges for INDEX and MATCH.

The MATCH function should look for the product name in F4 within A2:A6. INDEX returns the quantity from C2:C6 at that position.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a formula that finds the department name in column B for the employee ID in cell G5 from the table A2:C6.

Google Sheets

=INDEX([1], MATCH(G5, [2], 0))

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

AB2:B6

BA2:A6

CC2:C6

DD2:D6

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Swapping the ranges for INDEX and MATCH.

Using a range outside the table.

INDEX uses the department names in B2:B6. MATCH finds the position of the employee ID in G5 within A2:A6.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a formula that finds the salary in column C for the employee name in cell H6 from the table A2:C6.

Google Sheets

=INDEX([1], MATCH([2], [3], 0))

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

AC2:C6

BH6

CB2:B6

DA2:A6

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong column for salary.

Looking up employee ID instead of name.

INDEX returns the salary from C2:C6. MATCH finds the position of the employee name in H6 within B2:B6.

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