UNIQUE function in Google Sheets - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

A list of fruit names with some duplicates in column A.

Cell	Value
A1	Apple
A2	Banana
A3	Apple
A4	Orange
A5	Banana
A6	Grape

Formula Trace

=UNIQUE(A1:A6)

Step 1: A1:A6

Step 2: UNIQUE(["Apple", "Banana", "Apple", "Orange", "Banana", "Grape"])

Cell Reference Map

Apple

↓

Banana

↓

Apple

↓

Orange

↓

Banana

↓

Grape

The formula references cells A1 through A6 which contain fruit names with duplicates.

Result

   B   
1 Apple 
2 Banana
3 Orange
4 Grape

The UNIQUE function outputs the list of fruits without duplicates starting in cell B1.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What does the UNIQUE function do with the list in A1:A6?

A It counts how many times each fruit appears.

B It removes duplicate fruit names and shows only one of each.

C It sorts the fruit names alphabetically.

D It reverses the order of the fruit names.

Key Result

UNIQUE(range) returns a list of unique values from the given range, removing duplicates.

Practice

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

easy

A. It counts how many cells have numbers.

B. It sums all numbers in a range.

C. It returns a list of values without any duplicates.

D. It sorts data alphabetically.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of UNIQUE

   The UNIQUE function removes duplicate entries from a list or range.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Other options describe different functions like SUM, SORT, and COUNT, not UNIQUE.

3. Final Answer:

   It returns a list of values without any duplicates. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   UNIQUE removes duplicates = It returns a list of values without any duplicates. [OK]

Hint: UNIQUE means no repeats in your list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing UNIQUE with SUM or COUNT functions
• Thinking UNIQUE sorts data
• Assuming UNIQUE counts items

2. Which of these is the correct way to use the UNIQUE function on range A1:A10?

easy

A. =UNIQUE(A1:A10)

B. =UNIQUE(A1-A10)

C. =UNIQUE(A1;A10)

D. =UNIQUE(A1,A10)

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the syntax of UNIQUE

   The UNIQUE function takes a range as a single argument, written as A1:A10.

2. Step 2: Identify correct range notation

   Colon (:) is used to specify a range, so =UNIQUE(A1:A10) is correct. Other options use invalid separators or operators.

3. Final Answer:

   =UNIQUE(A1:A10) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Range uses colon : = =UNIQUE(A1:A10) [OK]

Hint: Use colon : to select ranges in formulas [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using comma or semicolon instead of colon for ranges
• Using minus sign instead of colon
• Putting multiple arguments separated by commas

3. Given this data in column A:
A1: Apple
A2: Banana
A3: Apple
A4: Orange
A5: Banana
What will =UNIQUE(A1:A5) return?

medium

A. Apple, Banana, Apple, Orange, Banana

B. Apple, Banana, Orange

C. Banana, Orange

D. Apple, Orange

Solution

1. Step 1: List all unique values from A1:A5

   The values are Apple, Banana, Apple, Orange, Banana. Unique values are Apple, Banana, Orange.

2. Step 2: Understand UNIQUE output

   UNIQUE removes duplicates and returns only the first occurrence of each unique item.

3. Final Answer:

   Apple, Banana, Orange -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   UNIQUE removes repeats = Apple, Banana, Orange [OK]

Hint: UNIQUE keeps first of each item only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Listing all items without removing duplicates
• Missing some unique items
• Assuming UNIQUE sorts the list

4. You wrote =UNIQUE(A1;A10) but got an error. What is the fix?

medium

A. Remove the equals sign: UNIQUE(A1;A10)

B. Add a second argument: =UNIQUE(A1:A10, TRUE)

C. Use commas instead: =UNIQUE(A1,A10)

D. Change semicolon to colon: =UNIQUE(A1:A10)

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the error cause

   Using semicolon between A1 and A10 is invalid syntax for range selection in Google Sheets.

2. Step 2: Correct the range syntax

   Replace semicolon with colon to specify the range correctly: A1:A10.

3. Final Answer:

   Change semicolon to colon: =UNIQUE(A1:A10) -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Range uses colon : not semicolon ; [OK]

Hint: Ranges use colon :, not semicolon ; [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using semicolon instead of colon for ranges
• Adding unnecessary arguments
• Removing equals sign from formula

5. You have this data in columns A and B:
A1: John, B1: Apple
A2: Mary, B2: Banana
A3: John, B3: Apple
A4: John, B4: Orange
A5: Mary, B5: Banana
What will =UNIQUE(A1:B5) return?

hard

A. John, AppleMary, BananaJohn, Orange

B. John, AppleMary, Banana

C. John, AppleMary, BananaJohn, AppleJohn, OrangeMary, Banana

D. Apple, Banana, Orange

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand UNIQUE on multiple columns

   UNIQUE treats each row as a whole. It removes duplicate rows based on all columns.

2. Step 2: Identify unique rows in A1:B5

   Rows are:
   1) John, Apple
   2) Mary, Banana
   3) John, Apple (duplicate of row 1)
   4) John, Orange
   5) Mary, Banana (duplicate of row 2)
   Unique rows are 1, 2, and 4.

3. Final Answer:

   John, Apple
   Mary, Banana
   John, Orange -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   UNIQUE removes duplicate rows = John, Apple
   Mary, Banana
   John, Orange [OK]

Hint: UNIQUE on multiple columns removes duplicate rows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming UNIQUE works column-wise separately
• Listing duplicates again
• Only listing unique values from one column