WEEKDAY and WORKDAY in Google Sheets - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

Dates in column A and numbers of days to add in column B

Cell	Value
A1	2024-06-10
A2	2024-06-14
A3	2024-06-15
B1	5
B2	2
B3	3

Formula Trace

=WEEKDAY(A1, 2)

Step 1: A1

Step 2: WEEKDAY("2024-06-10", 2)

Cell Reference Map

2024-06-10

↓

2024-06-14

↓

2024-06-15

The formula references cell A1 which holds the date to find the weekday for.

Result

    A           C
1 2024-06-10    1

Cell C1 shows the weekday number for the date in A1

The formula result '1' means Monday, as per WEEKDAY with type 2 numbering.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What weekday number does WEEKDAY(A1, 2) return if A1 is 2024-06-10?

A 1

B 2

C 7

D 5

Key Result

WEEKDAY(date, type) returns the day number of the week; WORKDAY(start_date, days) returns the date after adding workdays skipping weekends.

Practice

1. What does the WEEKDAY function return when given a date in Google Sheets?

easy

A. The name of the month for that date

B. The date of the next working day

C. The number of days between two dates

D. A number representing the day of the week for that date

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of WEEKDAY

   The WEEKDAY function returns a number from 1 to 7 representing the day of the week for a given date.

2. Step 2: Compare options with function behavior

   Only a number representing the day of the week for that date correctly describes this behavior; others describe unrelated functions.

3. Final Answer:

   A number representing the day of the week for that date -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   WEEKDAY = day number [OK]

Hint: WEEKDAY gives day number, not names or intervals [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking WEEKDAY returns the month's name
• Confusing WEEKDAY with date difference functions
• Assuming WEEKDAY returns the next workday

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to add 5 working days to a date in cell A1, skipping weekends in Google Sheets?

easy

A. =WEEKDAY(A1 + 5)

B. =WORKDAY(A1, 5)

C. =WORKDAY(5, A1)

D. =WORKDAY(A1 + 5)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall WORKDAY function syntax

   WORKDAY(start_date, days, [holidays]) adds working days to start_date, skipping weekends.

2. Step 2: Check each option's syntax

   =WORKDAY(A1, 5) correctly uses WORKDAY with start_date A1 and 5 days. Others misuse argument order or functions.

3. Final Answer:

   =WORKDAY(A1, 5) -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   WORKDAY(start_date, days) [OK]

Hint: WORKDAY(start_date, days) adds workdays skipping weekends [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping arguments in WORKDAY
• Using WEEKDAY instead of WORKDAY to add days
• Adding days directly without WORKDAY

3. If cell A1 contains the date 2024-06-14 (a Friday), what will =WORKDAY(A1, 3) return?

medium

A. 2024-06-19 (Wednesday)

B. 2024-06-18 (Tuesday)

C. 2024-06-17 (Monday)

D. 2024-06-20 (Thursday)

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the start date and days to add

   Start date is Friday, June 14, 2024. We add 3 working days skipping weekends.

2. Step 2: Count 3 working days skipping weekend

   Day 1: Monday, June 17
   Day 2: Tuesday, June 18
   Day 3: Wednesday, June 19

3. Final Answer:

   2024-06-19 (Wednesday) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   WORKDAY skips weekends, so 3 workdays after Friday is Wednesday [OK]

Hint: Count workdays skipping Sat/Sun after start date [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Counting weekend days as workdays
• Adding days directly without WORKDAY
• Misidentifying the weekday of the start date

4. The formula =WORKDAY(A1, 10, C1:C3) returns an error. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. WORKDAY cannot accept a range for holidays

B. The second argument must be a date, not a number

C. The holidays range C1:C3 contains invalid dates

D. The start date in A1 is not a valid date

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand WORKDAY arguments

   WORKDAY(start_date, days, [holidays]) expects holidays as valid dates in a range.

2. Step 2: Identify common error with holidays

   If holidays range contains invalid or text values, WORKDAY returns an error.

3. Final Answer:

   The holidays range C1:C3 contains invalid dates -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Invalid holiday dates cause WORKDAY errors [OK]

Hint: Check holiday dates for validity if WORKDAY errors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming days argument must be a date
• Thinking WORKDAY can't accept holiday ranges
• Ignoring invalid or text values in holidays

5. You want to find the weekday number of the date that is 7 working days after 2024-06-10, excluding weekends and the holidays in range B1:B2. Which formula correctly does this?

hard

A. =WEEKDAY(WORKDAY(DATE(2024,6,10), 7, B1:B2))

B. =WORKDAY(WEEKDAY(DATE(2024,6,10)), 7, B1:B2)

C. =WEEKDAY(DATE(2024,6,10) + 7)

D. =WORKDAY(DATE(2024,6,10), 7) + WEEKDAY(B1:B2)

Solution

1. Step 1: Calculate the date 7 working days after June 10, 2024

   Use WORKDAY with start date DATE(2024,6,10), days 7, and holidays B1:B2 to skip weekends and holidays.

2. Step 2: Find the weekday number of the resulting date

   Wrap the WORKDAY result inside WEEKDAY to get the day number of that date.

3. Final Answer:

   =WEEKDAY(WORKDAY(DATE(2024,6,10), 7, B1:B2)) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   WORKDAY then WEEKDAY gives weekday number after skipping holidays [OK]

Hint: Use WORKDAY inside WEEKDAY to get weekday number after workdays [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using WEEKDAY before WORKDAY
• Adding days directly ignoring holidays
• Trying to add WEEKDAY results to dates