Practice by topic / Excel / Fundamentals
Every Excel formula is built from the same basics: cell references, operators and the order Excel calculates them in. Get these right and the rest of Excel stops feeling like guesswork. These 10 exercises build up step by step, starting with lock only the column, lock only the row, mixed reference for a row header multiplier.
3 of 10 free · no sign-up needed · graded on the formula you write
A2 holds a price that should keep its column locked but row free when copied across. B1 holds a multiplier. Write a formula in B2 using $A2 that multiplies A2 by B1.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | |
| 2 | 10 | ? |
Lock only the column of A2 with $A2, referencing B1 normally: =$A2*B1
Right — $A2 locks the column (A) but lets the row shift, which is useful when copying a formula sideways across columns.
Expected result in B2: 30
B1 holds a rate that should keep its row locked but column free when copied sideways. A2 holds a value. Write a formula in B2 using B$1 that multiplies A2 by the row-locked B1.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | |
| 2 | 8 | ? |
Lock only the row of B1 with B$1: =A2*B$1
Good — B$1 locks the row (1) but lets the column shift, which matters when copying a formula across columns.
Expected result in B2: 32
A2 holds a quantity in row 2. B1 holds a per-unit rate in row 1. Write a formula in B2 that multiplies A2 (column-locked) by B1 (row-locked).
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | |
| 2 | 6 | ? |
Use $A2 for the column-locked quantity and B$1 for the row-locked rate: =$A2*B$1
Right — locking A's column and B1's row is the classic pattern for building a small multiplication table that copies correctly in both directions.
Expected result in B2: 72
A2 holds a value with its column that should stay locked. B1 holds a threshold with its row that should stay locked. Write a formula in B2 returning TRUE if $A2 exceeds B$1.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 | |
| 2 | 55 | ? |
Solution and instant grading: open it in the practice app (use one of your 20 free picks, or Pro).
Try it in the live spreadsheet →A2 holds a column-locked base value. B1 holds a row-locked deduction. Write a formula in B2 for $A2 minus B$1.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | |
| 2 | 100 | ? |
Solution and instant grading: open it in the practice app (use one of your 20 free picks, or Pro).
Try it in the live spreadsheet →A2 holds a column-locked total. B1 holds a row-locked divisor. Write a formula in B2 for $A2 divided by B$1.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | |
| 2 | 90 | ? |
Solution and instant grading: open it in the practice app (use one of your 20 free picks, or Pro).
Try it in the live spreadsheet →A2 holds a column-locked amount. B1 holds a row-locked addition. Write a formula in B2 that adds $A2 and B$1.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | |
| 2 | 30 | ? |
Solution and instant grading: open it in the practice app (use one of your 20 free picks, or Pro).
Try it in the live spreadsheet →A2 holds a column-locked base amount. B1 holds a row-locked percentage as a decimal. Write a formula in B2 for the percentage of the base.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.25 | |
| 2 | 400 | ? |
Solution and instant grading: open it in the practice app (use one of your 20 free picks, or Pro).
Try it in the live spreadsheet →A2 holds a column-locked value that varies by row. B1 holds a completely fixed constant. Write a formula in B2 that adds $A2 to the fully-locked $B$1.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | |
| 2 | 12 | ? |
Solution and instant grading: open it in the practice app (use one of your 20 free picks, or Pro).
Try it in the live spreadsheet →A2 holds a row-locked category label's numeric value in column A (locked). B1 holds a per-row-locked rate. Write a formula in B2 multiplying $A2 by B$1.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | |
| 2 | 15 | ? |
Solution and instant grading: open it in the practice app (use one of your 20 free picks, or Pro).
Try it in the live spreadsheet →