KwickClips Course Topics · 44 sec · free
Why did my copied formula give wrong answers?
Short answer. Its relative references shifted.
What does $B2 lock?
Only the column B.
Relative vs absolute
| Type | Example | On copy |
|---|---|---|
| Relative | B2 | changes |
| Absolute | $B$2 | stays fixed |
| Mixed | $B2 | one part fixed |
Remember
| Relative changes on copy |
| Dollar signs lock a reference |
| Press F4 in Excel to switch |
You copied a formula down, and the answers broke. Why? Copying shifts references. Relative B2 changes. Absolute, with dollar signs, stays fixed. Mixed locks one part. Relative changes. Dollar signs lock it. Press F4 to switch.
This clip is from the full lesson: Relative and absolute cell references — 7 minutes, with the tables, the quick answers and the whole lesson in text.
Useful for: NIOS Senior Secondary Data Entry Operations (336)
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