Excel for Beginners Course: Cell references and AutoFill

1. Question 1 of 17

   What type of reference is B2 when you type it in a formula without any $ signs?

   • AAbsolute
   • BRelative
   • CExternal
   • DMixed
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   Answer: B. Relative

   By default a cell reference is relative. It changes when you copy the formula to another cell.

2. Question 2 of 17

   Which reference stays exactly the same wherever you copy the formula?

   • A$A$1
   • BA$1
   • C$A1
   • DA1
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   Answer: A. $A$1

   A $ before both the column letter and the row number makes the reference absolute, so it never changes when copied.

3. Question 3 of 17

   Which key switches a selected reference between relative, absolute and mixed types?

   • AF4
   • BF2
   • CF11
   • DEsc
   Show answer

   Answer: A. F4

   Select the reference in the formula bar and press F4 to cycle through the reference types.

4. Question 4 of 17

   Where is the fill handle?

   • AAt the top-left corner of the column heading
   • BNext to the sheet tabs at the bottom of the window
   • CAt the lower-right corner of the selected cell
   • DOn the Data tab of the ribbon
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   Answer: C. At the lower-right corner of the selected cell

   The fill handle sits at the lower-right corner of the selected cell. Drag it to fill nearby cells.

5. Question 5 of 17

   Cell D2 contains =B2*C2. You copy D2 down to D3. What formula is in D3?

   • A=B2*C2
   • B=C3*D3
   • C=B3*C3
   • D=B3*C2
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   Answer: C. =B3*C3

   Relative references move with the formula. Copying one row down changes B2 to B3 and C2 to C3.

6. Question 6 of 17

   Cell G2 contains =SUM(B2:F2). You drag the fill handle from G2 down to G5. What formula is in G5?

   • A=SUM(B2:F2)
   • B=SUM(E2:I2)
   • C=SUM(B5:F5)
   • D=SUM(B5:F2)
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   Answer: C. =SUM(B5:F5)

   When you fill down, relative references change row by row. Three rows down, B2:F2 becomes B5:F5.

7. Question 7 of 17

   Cell E2 contains =D2*$H$1. You copy E2 to E5. What formula is in E5?

   • A=D5*$H$4
   • B=D2*$H$1
   • C=D5*H4
   • D=D5*$H$1
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   Answer: D. =D5*$H$1

   D2 is relative so it becomes D5. $H$1 is absolute, so it stays $H$1.

8. Question 8 of 17

   In the sheet below, you select A2:A3 and drag the fill handle down to A6. What number appears in A6?

   	A
   1	Shift #
   2	1
   3	2
   4
   5
   6

   • A5
   • B2
   • C1
   • D6
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   Answer: A. 5

   Two starting values set a pattern. Excel continues 1, 2 with 3, 4 and 5, so A6 shows 5.

9. Question 9 of 17

   In the sheet below, you select only B2 (which holds 5) and drag the fill handle down to B5. What do B3:B5 show?

   	A	B
   1	Week	Visits
   2	1	5
   3
   4
   5

   • A10, 15 and 20
   • B5, 5 and 5
   • C6, 7 and 8
   • D0, 0 and 0
   Show answer

   Answer: B. 5, 5 and 5

   When you start from a single number, dragging the fill handle repeats that number. Start with two values to build a series.

10. Question 10 of 17

    In the sheet below, you select A2:A3 and drag the fill handle down to A7. What number appears in A7?

    	A
    1	Badge #
    2	2
    3	4
    4
    5
    6
    7

    • A4
    • B7
    • C12
    • D10
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    Answer: C. 12

    The two values set a step of 2, so the series is 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. A7 is the sixth value, 12.

11. Question 11 of 17

    You select D2:D20, where D2 holds a formula. Which shortcut copies the formula down into the rest of the selection?

    • ACtrl+R
    • BCtrl+T
    • CCtrl+1
    • DCtrl+D
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Ctrl+D

    Ctrl+D fills down in a column. Ctrl+R fills to the right in a row.

12. Question 12 of 17

    In the sheet below, C2 contains =B2*E2. You copy C2 down to C3. What does C3 show?

    	A	B	C	D	E
    1	Rep	Sales	Commission		Rate
    2	Kai	12000			0.04
    3	Lina	9500
    4	Moe	15250

    • A0
    • B#VALUE!
    • C480
    • D380
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 0

    The copied formula becomes =B3*E3. E3 is empty, so Excel treats it as 0 and the result is 0. The rate cell needs an absolute reference.

13. Question 13 of 17

    In the sheet below, which formula in C2 can be copied down to C4 and still use the rate in E2 every time?

    	A	B	C	D	E
    1	Rep	Sales	Commission		Rate
    2	Kai	12000			0.04
    3	Lina	9500
    4	Moe	15250

    • A=$B$2*E2
    • B=B2*E2
    • C=B$2*E$3
    • D=B2*$E$2
    Show answer

    Answer: D. =B2*$E$2

    $E$2 is absolute, so every copy keeps using the rate in E2, while B2 changes to B3 and B4.

14. Question 14 of 17

    In the sheet below, C2 contains =B2*$E$2 and is copied down to C4. What does C4 show?

    	A	B	C	D	E
    1	Rep	Sales	Commission		Rate
    2	Kai	12000			0.04
    3	Lina	9500
    4	Moe	15250

    • A15250
    • B610
    • C480
    • D0
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 610

    In C4 the formula becomes =B4*$E$2, so 15250 × 0.04 = 610.

15. Question 15 of 17

    In the sheet below, B2 contains =$A2*B$1. You fill it across and down to D4. What formula is in C3?

    	A	B	C	D
    1		1	2	3
    2	10
    3	20
    4	30

    • A=A3*C1
    • B=$A2*B$1
    • C=$A3*C$1
    • D=$B3*C$2
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    Answer: C. =$A3*C$1

    $A keeps column A fixed and $1 keeps row 1 fixed. One row down and one column right, the formula becomes =$A3*C$1.

16. Question 16 of 17

    In the sheet below, B2 contains =$A2*B$1. You fill it across and down to D4. What value does D4 show?

    	A	B	C	D
    1		1	2	3
    2	10
    3	20
    4	30

    • A10
    • B90
    • C30
    • D60
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    Answer: B. 90

    In D4 the formula becomes =$A4*D$1, which is 30 × 3 = 90.

17. Question 17 of 17

    A cell contains the mixed reference =$A1. You copy it two rows down and two columns right. What does the formula become?

    • A=$A3
    • B=C$1
    • C=$C3
    • D=$A1
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    Answer: A. =$A3

    The $ before A locks the column, but the row is relative. Two rows down, row 1 becomes row 3, giving =$A3.

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