SWITCH function in Google Sheets - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to return "Apple" when the value is 1.

Google Sheets

=SWITCH(A1, [1], "Apple", "Unknown")

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

AA1

B1

C"1"

DTRUE

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using quotes around 1 makes it a text, which won't match the number 1.

Using A1 as a case instead of a value causes an error.

The SWITCH function compares the first argument to the cases. Here, 1 matches the case 1, so it returns "Apple".

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to return "Banana" when the value is 2.

Google Sheets

=SWITCH(A2, 1, "Apple", [1], "Banana", "Unknown")

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

AA2

B"2"

C2

DFALSE

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using quotes around 2 makes it text and won't match number 2.

Using cell references as case values causes errors.

The second case is 2 without quotes to match the numeric value in A2. This returns "Banana" when A2 is 2.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the SWITCH formula to return "Orange" when the value is 3.

Google Sheets

=SWITCH(A3, 1, "Apple", 2, "Banana", [1], "Orange", "Unknown")

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

A"3"

BA3

CTRUE

D3

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using "3" (text) instead of 3 (number) causes no match.

Using cell references or TRUE as case values causes errors.

The case 3 must be a number without quotes to match the numeric value in A3 and return "Orange".

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to return "Red" for 1 and "Green" for 2.

Google Sheets

=SWITCH(A4, [1], "Red", [2], "Green", "Unknown")

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

A1

B2

C"1"

D"2"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using quoted numbers causes no match.

Swapping the cases changes the output.

Use numbers 1 and 2 without quotes to match numeric values in A4 and return the correct colors.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to return uppercase fruit names for 1, 2, and 3.

Google Sheets

=SWITCH(A5, [1], "APPLE", [2], "BANANA", [3], "CHERRY", "UNKNOWN")

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

A1

B2

C3

D"3"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using "3" (text) instead of 3 (number) causes mismatch.

Mixing text and numbers in cases causes errors.

Use numbers 1, 2, and 3 without quotes to match numeric values in A5 and return uppercase fruit names.

Practice

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

easy

A. It selects a value based on matching a given expression to cases.

B. It adds up all numbers in a range.

C. It finds the average of numbers in a list.

D. It sorts data alphabetically.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of SWITCH

   The SWITCH function compares a value to multiple cases and returns the matching result.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Options A, B, and D describe different functions (AVERAGE, SUM, SORT), not SWITCH.

3. Final Answer:

   It selects a value based on matching a given expression to cases. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   SWITCH matches value to cases = It selects a value based on matching a given expression to cases. [OK]

Hint: Remember SWITCH picks result by matching value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing SWITCH with SUM or AVERAGE
• Thinking SWITCH sorts data
• Missing that SWITCH needs a matching value

2. Which of these is the correct syntax for the SWITCH function in Google Sheets?

easy

A. SWITCH(expression; case1; result1; case2; result2; default)

B. SWITCH(expression, case1, result1, case2, result2, ..., default)

C. SWITCH(expression, case1:result1, case2:result2, default)

D. SWITCH(expression, {case1, result1}, {case2, result2}, default)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall SWITCH syntax

   The correct syntax uses commas to separate expression, cases, results, and default value.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   SWITCH(expression, case1, result1, case2, result2, ..., default) uses commas correctly. SWITCH(expression; case1; result1; case2; result2; default) uses semicolons (wrong in Google Sheets). Options C and D use incorrect separators or braces.

3. Final Answer:

   SWITCH(expression, case1, result1, case2, result2, ..., default) -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Correct syntax uses commas = SWITCH(expression, case1, result1, case2, result2, ..., default) [OK]

Hint: Use commas, not semicolons, to separate SWITCH arguments [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using semicolons instead of commas
• Using colons or braces incorrectly
• Omitting the default value

3. What is the result of this formula in Google Sheets?
=SWITCH(A1, "Red", 1, "Blue", 2, "Green", 3, 0)
If cell A1 contains the text Blue?

medium

A. 2

B. 1

C. 3

D. 0

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the value in A1

   A1 contains "Blue".

2. Step 2: Match A1 value with SWITCH cases

   "Blue" matches the second case, which returns 2.

3. Final Answer:

   2 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Value "Blue" returns 2 [OK]

Hint: Match the cell value to cases to find result fast [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing the default value instead of matching case
• Confusing case order
• Ignoring exact text match

4. This formula returns an error. What is wrong?
=SWITCH(B2, "Yes", 10, "No", 0)

medium

A. Too many arguments provided

B. Wrong use of quotation marks

C. Missing default value argument at the end

D. Incorrect cell reference syntax

Solution

1. Step 1: Check SWITCH argument count

   The formula has expression, two cases with results, but no default value.

2. Step 2: Understand default value necessity

   SWITCH requires a default value to return if no case matches; missing it causes an error.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing default value argument at the end -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Always include default value in SWITCH [OK]

Hint: Always add a default value to avoid errors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting the default value
• Thinking quotes cause error
• Assuming cell reference is wrong

5. You want to assign grades based on scores in cell C3 using SWITCH: 90+ = "A", 80-89 = "B", 70-79 = "C", below 70 = "F". Which formula correctly uses SWITCH to do this?

hard

A. =SWITCH(C3, TRUE, "A", FALSE, "F")

B. =SWITCH(C3, 90, "A", 80, "B", 70, "C", "F")

C. =SWITCH(C3>=90, "A", C3>=80, "B", C3>=70, "C", "F")

D. =SWITCH(TRUE, C3>=90, "A", C3>=80, "B", C3>=70, "C", TRUE, "F")

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand SWITCH with logical TRUE

   Using SWITCH(TRUE, ...) lets us test conditions in order, returning the first TRUE match.

2. Step 2: Check each condition and result pair

   =SWITCH(TRUE, C3>=90, "A", C3>=80, "B", C3>=70, "C", TRUE, "F") correctly tests if C3>=90, then C3>=80, then C3>=70, else default TRUE returns "F".

3. Step 3: Review other options

   =SWITCH(C3, 90, "A", 80, "B", 70, "C", "F") matches exact numbers, not ranges. =SWITCH(C3>=90, "A", C3>=80, "B", C3>=70, "C", "F") misses default value. =SWITCH(C3, TRUE, "A", FALSE, "F") is incorrect logic.

4. Final Answer:

   =SWITCH(TRUE, C3>=90, "A", C3>=80, "B", C3>=70, "C", TRUE, "F") -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Use SWITCH(TRUE, conditions...) for range checks [OK]

Hint: Use SWITCH(TRUE, condition, result, ...) for ranges [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to match exact numbers instead of ranges
• Omitting default value
• Not using TRUE as first argument for conditions