LABEL for column headers in Google Sheets - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the formula to add a label "Sales" above the data in column A.

Google Sheets

=LABEL(A2:A10, [1])

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

ASales

B"Sales"

C'Sales'

DSales"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Forgetting the quotes around the label text.

Using single quotes instead of double quotes.

Typing the label without quotes causing an error.

The LABEL function requires the label text in quotes. So use "Sales" to label the column.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the formula to label the range B2:B15 as "Expenses".

Google Sheets

=LABEL([1], "Expenses")

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

AB2:B15

BB1:B15

CB2:B14

DB3:B15

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Including the header row in the range.

Selecting a range that is too short or too long.

Using incorrect cell references.

The range to label is B2:B15, which contains the data without the header row.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the formula to label C2:C20 as "Profit".

Google Sheets

=LABEL(C2:C20, [1])

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

AProfit

Bprofit

C'Profit'

D"Profit"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Omitting quotes around the label text.

Using single quotes instead of double quotes.

Using lowercase without quotes.

The label text must be enclosed in double quotes to be recognized as a string.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to label the range D3:D12 as "Revenue" and the range E3:E12 as "Cost".

Google Sheets

=ARRAYFORMULA({LABEL(D3:D12, [1]), LABEL(E3:E12, [2])})

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

A"Revenue"

B"Profit"

C"Cost"

D"Sales"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Mixing up the labels for the two ranges.

Forgetting quotes around label text.

Using labels not matching the data.

The first label is "Revenue" for D3:D12, and the second label is "Cost" for E3:E12.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a dictionary with keys as uppercase column headers and values as the ranges labeled "Q1", "Q2", and "Q3".

Google Sheets

=[1]: LABEL(A2:A10, [2]), [3]: LABEL(B2:B10, "Q2"), "Q3": LABEL(C2:C10, "Q3")}

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

A"Q1"

B"Q2"

C"Q3"

D"q1"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Omitting double quotes around keys or labels.

Using incorrect key for the corresponding range.

Using lowercase instead of uppercase for keys.

The dictionary uses keys "Q1", "Q2", "Q3" (uppercase column headers). The value for "Q1" is the A2:A10 range labeled "Q1", for "Q2" is B2:B10 labeled "Q2", and for "Q3" is C2:C10 labeled "Q3". Thus, BLANK_1 (key) and BLANK_2 (label) are both "Q1"; BLANK_3 (key) is "Q2".

Practice

1. What does the LABEL clause do in a Google Sheets QUERY function?

easy

A. It filters rows based on a condition.

B. It sorts the data in ascending order.

C. It changes the column headers to custom names.

D. It sums up the values in a column.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of LABEL

   The LABEL clause is used to rename column headers in the QUERY output.

2. Step 2: Compare with other QUERY clauses

   Filtering, sorting, and summing are done by WHERE, ORDER BY, and aggregation functions, not LABEL.

3. Final Answer:

   It changes the column headers to custom names. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   LABEL = rename headers [OK]

Hint: LABEL changes headers, not data content or order [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing LABEL with WHERE or ORDER BY
• Thinking LABEL filters rows
• Assuming LABEL sums values

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to rename the first column header to "Name" using LABEL in a QUERY formula?

easy

A. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B LABEL A 'Name'")

B. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B LABEL 'Name' A")

C. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B LABEL A = 'Name'")

D. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B LABEL A : 'Name'")

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall LABEL syntax

   The correct syntax is LABEL column_identifier 'new_label' without extra symbols.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B LABEL A 'Name'") uses correct syntax: LABEL A 'Name'. Others have wrong order or symbols.

3. Final Answer:

   =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B LABEL A 'Name'") -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   LABEL column 'new_label' syntax [OK]

Hint: Use LABEL column 'new_label' exactly inside QUERY string [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Putting LABEL outside the QUERY string
• Using = or : instead of space before label
• Swapping label and column order

3. Given the data in A1:B3:
Name | Score
Alice | 90
Bob | 85
What will be the output headers when using:
=QUERY(A1:B3, "SELECT A, B LABEL A 'Student', B 'Points'")?

medium

A. Student | Points

B. Name | Score

C. A | B

D. Name | Points

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand QUERY with LABEL

   The QUERY selects columns A and B and renames headers using LABEL clause.

2. Step 2: Apply LABEL renaming

   Column A header changes to 'Student', column B header changes to 'Points'.

3. Final Answer:

   Student | Points -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   LABEL renames headers as specified [OK]

Hint: LABEL changes headers, not data rows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking original headers remain
• Confusing column letters with headers
• Ignoring LABEL clause effect

4. You wrote this formula:
=QUERY(A1:C5, "SELECT A, B LABEL A 'Product', B 'Price'")
But the headers did not change. What is the likely error?

medium

A. The LABEL clause must come before SELECT.

B. The LABEL clause is missing commas between labels.

C. The LABEL clause requires double quotes around labels.

D. The LABEL clause must be inside the QUERY string after SELECT.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check LABEL placement

   LABEL must be inside the QUERY string after SELECT clause.

2. Step 2: Common placement error

   Users often mistakenly place the LABEL clause outside the QUERY string (e.g., =QUERY(A1:C5, "SELECT A, B") LABEL A 'Product', B 'Price'), causing it to be ignored.

3. Step 3: Identify common mistake

   This is the most likely reason headers do not change.

4. Final Answer:

   The LABEL clause must be inside the QUERY string after SELECT. -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   LABEL inside QUERY string needed [OK]

Hint: Keep LABEL inside the QUERY string after SELECT [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Placing LABEL outside the QUERY string
• Using commas inside LABEL clause
• Adding quotes incorrectly around labels

5. You want to use QUERY on range A1:D10 and rename columns A, C, and D to "Date", "Sales", and "Profit" respectively, but keep column B header unchanged. Which formula correctly applies LABEL for this?

hard

A. =QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT A, B, C, D LABEL A 'Date', C 'Sales' D 'Profit'")

B. =QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT A, B, C, D LABEL A 'Date', C 'Sales', D 'Profit'")

C. =QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT A, B, C, D LABEL A 'Date' C 'Sales' D 'Profit'")

D. =QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT A, B, C, D LABEL A 'Date', B 'Sales', C 'Profit'")

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify columns to rename

   Columns A, C, and D need new labels; B stays the same.

2. Step 2: Check LABEL syntax and commas

   Each label pair must be separated by commas inside LABEL clause.

3. Step 3: Verify options

   =QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT A, B, C, D LABEL A 'Date', C 'Sales', D 'Profit'") correctly renames A, C, D with commas; others have wrong columns or missing commas.

4. Final Answer:

   =QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT A, B, C, D LABEL A 'Date', C 'Sales', D 'Profit'") -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   LABEL pairs separated by commas, correct columns [OK]

Hint: Separate each LABEL pair with commas inside QUERY string [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting commas between label pairs
• Renaming wrong columns
• Missing quotes around new labels